DAYTON, Ohio — With Christmas right around the corner, Santa has been busy at work, but not as many small businesses are asking him to come before the holiday.  

What You Need To Know

  • One of Santa's booking agencies is reporting demand for Santa at small businesses is down 13% nationwide

  • A small preschool director says the price for Santa went up and made her hesitant about booking 

  • One the flip side, bookings for Santa in malls and big box stores are reportedly going up to draw in more shoppers

For Alissa carter, taking the kids to see Santa is a cherished tradition from the time you're born.

“Your parents always make it magical, and to be able to see Santa and feel him, it just to helps create that magic for the child," Carter said. 

This time, Santa came to see them. He went straight to Green Oak Preschool in Dayton to see all of the kids there. 

“Oh, Santa is busy. He likes visiting as many children as he can, so it's it's not like Christmas Eve when you get to visit all the homes, so I'm sort of limited on the number of children I could visit with, but I just love going to venues where I can visit with the children," said Santa Claus.

But Santa’s got to make a living. To get him to come before Christmas comes at a cost, one the preschool director said is rising.

“I’ve been blessed the past few years with our original Santa, who didn't charge us very much," Green Oak Preschool director Valerie Baker said. "This was kind of like I had to pay double this time, which is kind of hard for our nonprofit preschool." 

It’s part of what’s behind a nationwide trend. 

Mitch Allen, the head elf at Hire Santa, a booking agency for Santa, said demand for the man in red to come to small businesses and smaller events is down 13%. 

“We're seeing that the consumer is tighter and we're also seeing those small businesses also feeling it. Well, we've talked to some of our past clients, some of the small businesses and consumers, and that's what they're saying, they’re tightening their belts," said Allen.

However, he said the exact opposite is happening at big box stores. Demand for Santa at malls and large stores is up as a part of the big push to attract more holiday shoppers.

But no matter the cost at this preschool, seeing Santa and getting those pictures, is priceless. 

“It was worth it for the kids their faces were they lit up when they saw him," Baker said.

If you’d like to book Santa or see him before Christmas, click here for more information. 

Related Stories