Behind the Scenes @ Love From Santa

I sat down with a friend the other day to really talk business … business that is with Santa. Here’s a wee snapshot of some of the questions and answers we covered, and went through.

So what’s it like actually working with Santa?

Answer: BEST job in the whole world. How lucky am I? Seriously it is the most stressful job, because it is SO important. He is the most important person in the world, to children, and I am entrusted by him, and by parents everywhere to ensure he stays that way. So working with Santa is incredible, but also very stressful when you take it as seriously as I do. I’d hate to be fired by him!

What’s the best part of the job?

Ah that’s easy. The best part is hearing about the journeys the letters actually take. I LOVE LOVE LOVE knowing what happens when the letters arrive in post boxes. What magic takes hold and how little faces and hearts are just filled with wonder. MAKES MY DAYS. When you own a small business like mine, you mostly do it because you love it, and because you believe in it, so feedback for a small business is like getting the bonus you were hoping you might get!

Why letters from Santa, who would have thought?

I know – right. How did I end up here? Well like all decisions and directions in life, it sort of just happened. I’ve had a long career in Advertising Agencies making TV ads all around the world, and when I went to have my second daughter this opportunity fell in my lap. I brought the business from a great friend who was selling it, having had all her babies. I saw what she had done, and thought that’s a really great and special idea; I could work with that. And I have. I have changed and tweaked and made it my own since. But the idea is just so magical. Childhood is so fleeting these days, and Santa (or Father Christmas) is such a special part of that. I didn’t want to do anything cheesy with this business; getting a letter, in your mail box, from your own postman, from Santa – that’s magic. And what amazes me the most is how long kids hang onto believing – that means it’s important.

Do you do it all by yourself or do you have a team?

I’ve tried to do this business lots of ways over the years. With a team of helpers, without, outsourcing and on my own. What I’ve been reminded of it’s always best to focus on what your strengths are, and get help with the parts where others are better. That’s tricky in a small business where every penny counts, but it really does make a big difference. So this year, it’s mostly me, with a couple of experts I call in to help. I also secretly do like to retain control as much as I can myself – so I’ve a vested interest in keeping the team to just me. Let’s see how it goes!

How do you do this work at home with your children around?

Great question. It’s getting very difficult. To start with it was easy, they were little and had no idea what Mummy was up too. But this year my eldest daughter has learnt to read. So I am anticipating even more cloak and dagger styles, later nights and perhaps a few solid padlocks on boxes. Yikes. I’ve got a good story up my sleeve about how “Mummy actually works for Santa in Australia – but you can’t tell anyone etc etc” … I really hope I don’t have to use it!