Pipe Smoking Santa

[cosmicfolklore]

A Santa would have to work real hard or be real lucky to make that kind of money. The ones I know for sure that make that money do appearances in movies, commercials or music videos. They also do most of their work in affluent areas like Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, etc.

I personally make less because I don't portray Santa to make money. I consider it a successful season when I recoup my Santa expenses and am able to provide good Christmas presents to my grandchildren.

The ones at the malls here can make $60,000, but they also have to be in a skit every couple of hours. But, they'll have Mr and Mrs Clause and several elves on staff. I especially would NOT want to do that, haha.

 

[AroEnglish]

I personally make less because I don't portray Santa to make money. I consider it a successful season when I recoup my Santa expenses and am able to provide good Christmas presents to my grandchildren.

That’s some Santa spirit right there!

 

[pappymac]

The ones at the malls here can make $60,000, but they also have to be in a skit every couple of hours. But, they'll have Mr and Mrs Clause and several elves on staff. I especially would NOT want to do that, haha.

WOW!
I would hate to see what the mall charges for photos with Santa.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

WOW!
I would hate to see what the mall charges for photos with Santa.

I imagine the actual profit mostly comes from increased traffic and shoppers. People show up to see the Santa show, and spend while they are there. Increased sales, means happy stores, otherwise stores are leaving malls in droves. The only malls that seem to be keeping stores, here, are malls that are putting forth a great effort to keep bringing people in. Malls are a 1980's thing. New commercial architectural store designs here lean towards the outdoor malls, with transit systems. So, traditional malls are having to work hard to keep the stores inside them.

 

[pappymac]

I imagine the actual profit mostly comes from increased traffic and shoppers. People show up to see the Santa show, and spend while they are there. Increased sales, means happy stores, otherwise stores are leaving malls in droves. The only malls that seem to be keeping stores, here, are malls that are putting forth a great effort to keep bringing people in. Malls are suck a 1980's thing. New commercial architectural store designs here lean towards the outdoor malls, with transit systems. So, traditional malls are having to work hard to keep the stores inside them.

It looks like that mall has a different business model than most when it comes to Santa. The one I work at has a contract with a photography/video company and the photo company pays Santa and the staff.

Yep, indoor malls are slowly going the way of dinosaurs but some are still profitable. The one I work at has a 90% occupancy rate for the retail stores and the parking lots stay pretty full.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It looks like that mall has a different business model than most when it comes to Santa. The one I work at has a contract with a photography/video company and the photo company pays Santa and the staff.

Yep, indoor malls are slowly going the way of dinosaurs but some are still profitable. The one I work at has a 90% occupancy rate for the retail stores and the parking lots stay pretty full.

Yeh, the Brookwood Mall, here is rather swank. It has outdoor fire pits where you can set and smoke while your wife shops, and they'll bring you drinks, if that's your thing.

 

[Milverton1868]

He sure fits the classic image of Santa. I hope he can continue a little while longer.