disnut8
September 25th, 2007, 04:15 PM
I think this is taking some of the magic out of Christmas but I don't have to stand in line for a Santa picture. Actually, I never had to with Chris. He hated to visit with the fat old dude. But this just doesn't seem right. Phipps Plaza is a high scale mall while Perimeter Mall is a regurla mall for normal people.
Santa's people organize new appointment systems
By MATT KEMPNER (mkempner@ajc.com)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/25/2007
Promos for visits with Santa are already going out, long before the fat man actually shows up at area malls. But this year organizers are tinkering with ways to make the Santa frenzy more palatable for parents while still attracting more people.
Big Shot, the company that handles Santa operations for Phipps Plaza, recently began e-mailing past patrons, announcing that this year it will accept reservations for appointments throughout the season, instead of just certain days. Walk-ups are discouraged and appointments can only be made online.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/shared-local/images/1pix_trans.gif
"People didn't want to wait in line" for walk-ups last year, said Steve Lane, a co-owner of Big Shot. "I think they liked the simplicity of being able to book an appointment."
The company starts accepting reservations at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 16 for appointment times starting Nov. 10. The web site is www.santaatphipps.com (http://www.santaatphipps.com)
Meanwhile, Perimeter Mall is scaling back its appointment program to make the jolly man available to more people, marketing director Lisa Shepherd said.
Appointments will be accepted for Nov. 10-Nov. 25 only. Last year, the mall allowed appointments until just a few days before Christmas. The result: frustrated parents and kids who had trouble getting lap time with Santa.
Also this year, Perimeter is expanding on a program that sister malls Cumberland and North Point use: Walk-up customers can check in and get either a pager or a call on their cell phone notifying them when it's Santa time.
"People suffer having to stand in that long line," Shepherd said.
Customers can start calling for appointments on Nov. 9 at 770-604-9220.
Meanwhile, most area malls still handle Santa visits more informally: No appointments.
Santa's people organize new appointment systems
By MATT KEMPNER (mkempner@ajc.com)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/25/2007
Promos for visits with Santa are already going out, long before the fat man actually shows up at area malls. But this year organizers are tinkering with ways to make the Santa frenzy more palatable for parents while still attracting more people.
Big Shot, the company that handles Santa operations for Phipps Plaza, recently began e-mailing past patrons, announcing that this year it will accept reservations for appointments throughout the season, instead of just certain days. Walk-ups are discouraged and appointments can only be made online.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/shared-local/images/1pix_trans.gif
"People didn't want to wait in line" for walk-ups last year, said Steve Lane, a co-owner of Big Shot. "I think they liked the simplicity of being able to book an appointment."
The company starts accepting reservations at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 16 for appointment times starting Nov. 10. The web site is www.santaatphipps.com (http://www.santaatphipps.com)
Meanwhile, Perimeter Mall is scaling back its appointment program to make the jolly man available to more people, marketing director Lisa Shepherd said.
Appointments will be accepted for Nov. 10-Nov. 25 only. Last year, the mall allowed appointments until just a few days before Christmas. The result: frustrated parents and kids who had trouble getting lap time with Santa.
Also this year, Perimeter is expanding on a program that sister malls Cumberland and North Point use: Walk-up customers can check in and get either a pager or a call on their cell phone notifying them when it's Santa time.
"People suffer having to stand in that long line," Shepherd said.
Customers can start calling for appointments on Nov. 9 at 770-604-9220.
Meanwhile, most area malls still handle Santa visits more informally: No appointments.