In 2021, public demand for Santa Claus to attend holiday parties, parades or other events soared, while the number of trained and attendable Santa Claus decreased, creating yet another supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Santa Claus has long been reported to be a means for merchants and shopping malls to attract customers. Santa's service has also changed a bit last year due to COVID-19. Retailers are instead hosting Santa Claus meet-and-greets, and strict social distancing is required even when there are face-to-face physical events.
This year's Santa Claus experience will probably be a little more normal.
Hire Santa helps customers book Santa around the country. Its founder and director, Mitch Allen, said companies that provide Santa Claus services for holiday events are working hard to meet that demand. Allen said his company has seen a 10 percent drop in santa numbers this year, while demand for santas has more than doubled compared to before the pandemic.
Allen said: "The demand is very large, and the weekend service is sold out in more than a month, which is very unusual. Usually the service is sold out after Thanksgiving. ”
Susen Mesco, who runs a professional Santa Claus school in Denver, attributes the Santa shortage to several factors. In 2020 and 2021, enrollment at Santa Claus schools across the United States declined due to the coronavirus. Her school lost 120 potential Santa Claus trainees.
According to CNN, Santa Claus takes 180 hours of lessons in everything from sign language to child development to how to curl a beard.
Santa's average age is in their 60s and weighs about 248 pounds, which puts them at high risk of contracting the coronavirus. Allen said more than 335 "Santa Claus" have died this year from COVID-19 and other diseases.
At the same time, some Santa Claus did not dare to participate in the event because they were afraid of possible exposure to the virus transmitted through children.
As a last resort, businesses can only attract more workers with wage increases. During the holidays, Santa's salary rose 15 percent to $10,000, he said.
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