Thanks for the comments. I think you are 100% correct. Whole Foods and Dell are both headquartered in Austin. It would be easy to get a list of tips over coffee.

Thanks for the post. I’ll take a look at it!

Best,

Chris

I agree with your premise and suggestions wholeheartedly. This was an utterly ridiculous move for Whole Foods to make. When they need to be communicating directly with fans and advocates more than ever (you know, *real conversatin*), Whole Foods shut themselves off to the world.

In one sense, I do applaud them for taking the step of updating their ethics code. Heck, even having one is a great first step.

But here’s an even better idea: Train your employees to participate the right way. Dell did it. Nobody talks about “Dell Hell” anymore because they reached out and engaged with their audiences on their own blogs and in the blogosphere.

Memo to Whole Foods: Call Dell, ask to speak with John Pope, Richard Binhammer, or Lionel Menchaca. Take notes.

More suggestions here:
http://www.damniwish.com/2007/11/whole-foods-mis.html

Disclaimer: I work for the post’s author. But I would have posted this here anyway. It’s that good.