advertisement

Naperville company's elf site gains worldwide following

You can Elf Yourself.

Again.

Office Max returns this year with the free Web site, www.ElfYourself.com, where you can scan in your photo, attach it to a dancing elf and send it as an e-card to friends and family.

The Naperville-based company launched the site last year and about 11 million elves were created and sent.

So far this season, around 9.9 million elves have been created. That's about 10.5 elves created per second, joked Office Max spokeswoman Jennifer Rook.

"During the holidays, you often don't think of Office Max, so we just wanted to create these Web sites to have some fun," said Rook.

This year, you have the option to "elf yourself" and three others. Then you could record a synchronized message through a special toll-free phone number.

In addition, the elf creations are becoming popular worldwide. Videos of the dancing elves can be found on YouTube.com and they're being tracked by Alexa.com.

In fact, the ElfYourself.com site ranks sixth on the Alexa.com's Top 10 Movers and Shakers Web sites.

ElfYourself.com also has become popular with surfers in Canada, Bulgaria, United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the company says.

Besides elfing around, Office Max has brought back other free gag or game Web sites:

• ScroogeYourself.com

• ReindeerArmWrestling.com

• RoastATurkey.com

• GreetingsFromTheNorth.com

• ShakeTheGlobe.com

• YesImWorking.com

• DontShootYourEyeOut.com

• SaveTheSnowman.com

• FauxCharity.com

• NorthPoleDancing.com

Surfing: Last week, we wrote about Cyber Monday, when many of you get ready to click away on the Internet to do holiday shopping, right after Black Friday. ComScore reported that Cyber Monday sales reached a record $733 million this year, compared to $608 million last year, or a 21 percent increase, spokesman Andrew Lipsman said. Wonder how much of that e-commerce will ultimately be returned?

• Spyware poses the biggest security threat to organizations, while threats from worms, viruses and browser-based attacks have lessened. Fifty-five percent of 1,070 organizations surveyed said that the volume of spyware they are combating has increased over the past year, according to research released by Oakbrook Terrace-based Computing Technology Industry Association (www.comptia.org).

• Northlake-based Empire Today's Web site (www.empiretoday.com) has been revamped to let customers schedule appointments online with an immediate confirmation. A click-to-call function allows users to quickly reach Empire associates on the phone while online. The site also has more detailed product images and informational descriptions.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.