Home Industries VIBCO’s Elf on the Shelf tradition more than just holiday fun

VIBCO’s Elf on the Shelf tradition more than just holiday fun

By

Karl Wadensten

-

12/08/2025

Resized_20241203_111020 — VIBCO INC. celebrates the holidays with 25 days of Where’s the Elf at VIBCO. The tiny troublemakers show up in the most outrageous, OSHA-questionable and laugh-out-loud spots across the factory. /COURTESY VIBCO INC.

This time of year hits different at VIBCO Inc. Yes, we’re a real manufacturing company that has deadlines tighter than Santa’s chimney clearance and face supply chain curveballs still come at us like snowballs fired out of our own pneumatic vibrators. However, the truth is, the heart, soul and culture that carries us through the

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This time of year hits different at VIBCO Inc. Yes, we’re a real manufacturing company that has deadlines tighter than Santa’s chimney clearance and face supply chain curveballs still come at us like snowballs fired out of our own pneumatic vibrators. However, the truth is, the heart, soul and culture that carries us through the other 11 months finally gets to come out and play in full color during the holidays. Welcome to the 25 days of Where’s the Elf at VIBCO. Every December, our inner child takes over and hides one of our three legendary elves: Elfonso, Shakker and Snoop. These tiny troublemakers show up in the most outrageous, OSHA-questionable and laugh-out-loud spots across the factory. We take pictures, compare notes, compete and cheer for the teammate who one-ups the rest of us that morning. It’s ridiculous but brilliant! It reminds us exactly who we are - a team of some of the most ingenious, creative thinkers on the planet. Why do we do it? Because great teams don’t just work the right side of the brain the structure, systems and precision. Our superpower lives on the left side imagination, curiosity, play and creativity. The same muscles that help us solve complex problems all year get their warm-up from a silly elf hanging from a crane or stuffed into a conveyor chute. It’s leadership with a little Simon Sinek “why,” a little Peter Drucker culture clarity, and a whole lot of “what the heck are those elves doing now”? also known as VIBCO. We learned from the Pike Place fishmongers in Seattle who throw salmon higher than our forklifts can reach that culture is a choice, every single day. At VIBCO, we live their principles: Choose your attitude Be present Make somebody’s day Be world class And the one we chase hardest this time of year: Have FUN We’ve mastered the first four, our elves make damn sure we never forget number five. So what’s the real message? In a world full of pressure, problems, and production demands, we choose to lead with joy, connection and creativity. Teams who laugh together solve faster, build better, trust deeper and carry each other through anything This season and every season VIBCO’s greatest asset isn’t machinery or inventory - It’s the people the culture, the heartbeat. And three mischievous elves who keep ending up in places they absolutely should not be. Now we want to hear from you. What is your company or organization doing to keep the kid in us alive? To keep Christmas spirit, joy, silliness, and good will thriving at work? To build connection, creativity, belonging, and moments of pure fun? Tell us at VIBCO your traditions. your stories and you bring your inner Whoville to life because Dr. Seuss had it right: The holiday isn’t the presents, it’s the people. Karl Wadensten is a member of the R.I. Commerce Corp. board and president of VIBCO Inc., a manufacturing company based in Richmond. He has spent more than 25 years helping build and retain jobs in Rhode Island’s small and mid-sized business sector.