How can I keep it moist?
Am I supposed to stuff it?
What do I do with these giblets?
Those are just a few of the questions that the experts at the Butterball Turkey Talk Line address each November and December. During the two-month holiday season, the operators – based in Naperville, Illinois – assist about 100,000 callers with their turkey-related quandaries.
The free service began in 1981 with just six home economists answering 11,000 calls that first year. Throughout the pre-Internet ‘80s, the Turkey Talk Line grew in popularity until it became an annual tradition that turkey cookers all over the country came to depend on. It provided convenient answers – in a warm, friendly way – when people needed them most.
In recent years, Butterball has adapted to handle questions from more channels: email, text and social media platforms. But the phone lines are still there, allowing people to have a person-to-person, voice-to-voice conversation.
It’s proof that many people still want a traditional, lower-tech approach to service. And it may be a reason to reconsider how your company approaches customer care.
Are you purposely “hiding” behind a website or an app? Would your customers value the personal attention that comes from a caring, well-trained phone staff? Think of the long-term goodwill that type of connection could create, as well as the valuable feedback you’d collect and the other customer needs you might uncover.
Oh, and if you have a question about your bird, call the Butterball Turkey Talk Line at 1-800-288-8372.
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About the Author
Scott Greggory is the Chief Creative Officer at BusinessVoice. A copywriter, voice talent and producer with the agency since 1993, he leads the writing team and helped pioneer Humor On Hold in the mid-1990s. His work has been recognized 150+ times by local, regional and national award shows for creative excellence, including the 2021 AAF Silver Medal Award. In 2026, Scott became the first inductee of Bowling Green State University’s School of Media and Communication Hall of Fame.