Every year we sell stocking stuffers. Lots and lots of them. Our store is literally overflowing with all manner of doo-dads and trinkets for everyone. From wooden rattles for babies to high-tech accessories for iPods, we’ve got a lot of everything.
We make a sign board that announces the arrival of these lovely items. Currently, it say “Cool Stocking Stuffers for Everyone.” This to me, is a fairly benign sign. Announcing that we sell stocking stuffers seems to be a good way to get people to actually buy them. This signboard has never been a problem before, until Saturday.
A clearly agitated woman came in and asked to speak to the owner or manager. I hopped out of the office with my Santa hat on to speak with her. I had no idea I was about to get lectured about Santa and the nature of stocking stuffers. The woman just started in practically demanding that I take the sign down. I asked why and she counters with, “Santa brings the stocking stuffers.” Um, really? Apparently, her child, who was old enough to read, had seen the sign and started to wonder about Santa’s retail habits. Clearly, our store is not in the North Pole, so there was some explaining to do as they drove away from the signboard.
I tried to counter with a humorous comment about Santa shopping local and supporting stores in as many states as possible, but she was not amused. Other shoppers were laughing a little under their breath and I just tried to keep my cool. I held my ground on not removing the signboard and offered her a sugar plum and suggested that Santa can be anywhere at anytime.
Santa shops local. It’s a fact! I hope her child is wiser than she is, and keeps the discovery to himself or herself, because EVERYBODY KNOWS that the moment you say you don’t believe in Santa, he doesn’t bring you prezzies anymore.
I believe in Santa, I do, I do, I do.
I certainly appreciate adults that take the role of keeping the magic of Santa alive for children but hope they appreciate every opportunity to create stories that continue the magic. With Christmas merchandise out right after Halloween and many Santas in malls and on the street, I hope adults can don their own Santa hats and be as kind and gracious under pressure
as Josie.
I love this story. And I’ve found that “Have a sugar plum” is a good way to end almost any disagreement.
That’s hilarious! The closest I’ve come to this situation would be when, a couple of years ago, I had to try to explain to a little boy how Santa had gotten him a gift certificate to our bookstore. Luckily, he and his family had been shopping here about as long as the kid could remember, so he didn’t have too much trouble imagining that Santa might shop here, also. I dare say he was impressed that our bookstore was on Santa’s vendor list. 😉
where does one get sugar plums?!
We get ours from the Shelburne Country Store near us. They are glorious!