What is the name of your business and what is your role with the business? Visits with Santa - I am the owner, Santa Bob
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a proud parent of 5 beautiful children and I have been blessed to put a Red Suit on for almost twenty years. I see children at St Vincent DePaul, Phoenix Children's Hospital (The Rainbow Kids) at the Phoenix zoo, about 400, St Joe's hospital and Los Ninos hospital on Thomas. I'm also blessed to see Hospice children on their last journey. For the rest of the year I'm a financial advisor with Prudential Financial.
Please tell us a little about your business and specifically what you can provide for those planning a party in Arizona. Santa Bob adds holiday cheer, sprinkles magic on all, shares smiles,giggles and surprises and reminds us the Season of Giving lasts all year long!
Santa Bob ...
• Real-bearded Santa
• Real-tummy Santa
• Great HO HO HO voice
• Warm-hearted
• Jingles as he walks
• Reminds kids to be good all year long
• Available all year long, just like the green Christmas trees
• Member of AORBS (Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas)
• Member of Santa America
• Certified volunteer for Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ.
What parts of town does your business service? Flagstaff to Tucson or anywhere in Maricopa County.
Do you have a professional or personal blog that you would like to sharewith us?http://www.freewebs.com/santa_bob
Besides, Desert Parties, what are your favorite blogs? I also like viewing the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santa Claus' http://www.aorbsinc.com/ and also my daughter's photography blog. I like to check it out once in a while to see what she is up to.http://kristengrinnell.bigfolioblog.com/.
What tips can you share with our readers? Love your children unconditionally and remind them every year to give tothose who are less fortunate than them, and to always say Thank You.
How do Desert Parties readers contact you?
Cell (480) 235-5357 or (602) 667-4783
Email rpgrinnelljr@yahoo.com or robert.grinnell@prudential.com
Do you have any new services or products you would like to tell us about? Personalized "Letters from Santa" The letter is written with special emphasis given to the comments parents provide. The child's name is used in the letter to give your loved one a personal gift that only Santa can deliver. Santa's letter will be mailed on bright colored Christmas paper and delivered in a festive envelope.
What are the 3 adjectives that describe your businesses style?
Fun, happiness and value.
What is the best part of your job? Being able to give to those families who don't have a Christmas and provide them not only with presents from donations, but to spread the true meaning of Christmas. Most of the income I receive goes to about 20-35 families every year that I sponsor. These are very poor families who are not going to have a Christmas.
What is the highlight of your career to date? I have a prosthetic leg after an amputation from a car accident. At one party, a little boy was hiding in his room because he was too embarrassedto come out and see Santa with all the other kids. When I visited him privately with his parents in his room, I told him about my leg and showed him my leg. When he heard this, he pulled up his pants to reveal two tinyprosthetic legs and exclaimed, "Look Santa! I have two!" I nearly cried, but instead swept him up and hugged him. His smile is forever burned on my brain. His mother said "That will be with him the rest of his life."
Describe your ideal customer? Any child that feels loved and special after I leave.
What time-line should a customer have when using your services to plan a party? Book at least 6 months in advance, the days fill up quick come November.
What advice would you give our readers when selecting a vendor in your line of business? You have to feel comfortable with your Santa and he must put the children's well being first and foremost. Otherwise, the spirit of Christmas is lost.
What is the best party you ever attended? I love the parties where the kids are the main focus. A child can melt my heart in a second with a smile, then I know I'm doing a good job.
3 comments:
We've had the pleasure of having Santa Bob in our home for the last 3 Christmas seasons. He is an amazing person!!! He's a great Santa and has an amazing giving heart.
I worked with needy children around Maricopa County several years ago and Santa Bob was always willing to make a visit and provide them individualized special attention. The twinkle in his blue eyes is very real! He conveys the true meaning of Christmas.
We met Santa Bob at a holiday event in Cave Creek this year. He is so wonderful with the kids, they all adored him. We'll be sure to find him every year.
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