RR: This is the First Business Owner to Dress Up as Santa
What’s an “RR” Post?
One of those things we’re experimenting with on BBH is something I’m calling “Rerun” blog posts.
If you don’t know what those are and why I am doing them, then read this: Information Overload And The Invention Of Blog Post “Reruns” And “Marathons”.
This post originally appeared here on December 20, 2012…
James Edgar was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1843.
He arrived in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1878 and opened up a dry goods store there on Main Street.
He would have lived a life of obscurity except for one thing: an idea he had one Christmas in 1890.
You see, he wanted to bring in more business during the Christmas season and so he came up with the idea to dress up as Santa Claus in his store.
The resulting crowds shocked even Edgar.
Within days, children began flocking to his store.
In fact, the news spread so far that kids began to show up from as far as Boston and Providence.
He discovered that they had come by train just to see Santa.
Because of this, Edgar is credited as the first business owner to dress up as Santa.
And malls and department stores around the U.S. still carry on his tradition today.
Source: James Edgar (wikipedia)
Photo by Rochelle, just rochelle
Related article
- A Business Survival Guide To Holiday Marketing During The Last Week Before Christmas (baybusinesshelp.com)
