Here comes Santa Claus
Photo by Kevin Dooley
Poor Santa has been taking a lot of heat in the past few days – from the short-lived scandal (since retracted) news that he’d no longer be answering kiddies’ missives from the North Poleto dire warning that he could be harboring H1N1 behind that curly white beard.
Thanksgiving Day is traditionally when Santa Claus arrives – via parade, fire engine, helicopter or other magical means. (After Thursday, he’s on his own, in the back row of parking lot No. 4 near the rest of the elves.)
With the jolly one and his helpers scheduled to land in so many malls, stores, photo kiosks, community centers and other venues this week, consider a quirky and fun feature on the business of St. Nick.
Who is the guy or gal behind the red velvet suit? Staffing services and schools specialize in these portly philanthropists, including Santa for Hire, the Santa Claus Academy and the International University of Santa Claus. This Canadian Santa school’s site offers some interesting fodder for story ideas, too.
Aside from fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits like the curricula (memorizing reindeer names, storytelling and uniform maintenance) you’ll note from these sites that performing as Santa and/or Mrs. Claus seems to be a veritable calling, a subculture – well worth a work-life or careers feature. (I’m wondering, do they moonlight as the Easter Bunny in the off-season?)
Tying together Santa and the economy: One pet idea has yet to bear fruit but would be worth a try: create your own Santa Index by polling impersonators are area retail centers. What are kids asking for? A Zhu Zhu hamster or a job for mommy? That alone will give you a poignant snapshot of the region’s economy. What’s the mood? Are parents shaking heads surreptitiously when the Wiis are mentioned? Are the deluxe photo packages going unsold? Creating such an index – with weekly updates – would be a tricky task given Santa’s penchant for anonymity but readers would make it a go-to standing feature if you can swing it.
Other business angles are as myriad as snowflakes: Demand for Santas, costume rentals, Santa photo franchises at pet stores and other odd venues (OK, I’m guilty of falling for that one), bonding and liability insurance for Santa Claus, reindeer rental, and so on. Who builds, paints and maintains Santa’s workshop? (Hint: Michigan’s own Bronner’s - the purported world’s largest year-round Christmas store – does a brisk business in municipal holiday décor, as well as retail baubles.) How much do retail centers and local communities spend on seasonal décor, anyway?
Don’t overlook ancillary money-makers like paid, personalized letters, e-mails and phone calls from Santa, and Santa visits to children’s parties, charity events and corporate celebrations.
Now dash away all!
