Posted on 11/08/2015 4:44:17 PM PST by Sam's Army
SouthPark mall made a mistake when it chose to replace its traditional Christmas tree with a faux glacier, the company’s president said Sunday, and the controversial display will be removed sometime Monday.
“It was a mistake, and we had to correct,†Simon Mall President David Contis said Sunday. “If we lose money, so be it.†Indianapolis-based Simon Malls owns SouthPark as well as Charlotte Premium Outlets and Concord Mills.
SouthPark Mall shoppers did not take kindly to the mall replacing its traditional Christmas tree with the controversial glacier as part of its Santa display, so the shopping center announced this weekend that the tree is coming back.
The decision to add the glacier wasn’t intended to be secular at all, Contis told the Observer on Sunday. The glacier, which featured interactive elements like a sound and light show, cost tens of thousands of dollars and many months to build, he added.
The glacier, he said Sunday, should be gone within the next 24 hours.
Customer feedback on the new holiday feature was mostly negative on social media. Many accused the shopping center of trying too hard to be politically correct. Others lamented the aesthetics of the giant white mound.
A Change.org petition created soon after news of the glacier came out Friday had garnered nearly 24,000 signatures as of Sunday afternoon.
SouthPark is one of five malls in which Simon had planned to add the glacier. Contis said feedback at other malls has been mixed. Customers at a Long Island mall that added the glacier had a similar reaction to it as SouthPark shoppers, according to local reports.
On Saturday, just a day after SouthPark’s announcement of the new Santa display, the mall said it would incorporate “key elements to the Santa set,†including the traditional Christmas tree. At the time, the mall said it would keep the glacier, but now says it’s getting rid of it entirely.
The mall will be putting up its traditional decor, including the Christmas tree, that will feature a few new elements like updated lighting, Contis said.
Simon has been upgrading Santa sets throughout malls in the United States, Contis said. The glacier concept was inspired by the North Pole, the well-known home of Santa Claus.
“Not every one of our ideas works but the majority do. This is an idea that could be changed easily,†said Contis, who was on the capital committee that made the decision.
SouthPark is an important Simon mall, Contis added. It has long been a “good corporate citizen†that employs thousands and brings in millions in sales tax revenue. The mall is also in the midst of a major renovation that includes upgrades to its furniture, Wi-Fi and columns inside and its landscaping outside.
It looks like an abandoned carnival ride. I did not see a glacier looking at that.
***
Never noticed, but then again, I wouldn't be looking for cards like that. I was of the impression that Hallmark was quasi-religious since the Hallmark Channel edited out some language from shows, such as Frasier. Perhaps business is more important than moral values.
I wouldn’t be looking for cards like that.”
I wasn’t looking either. But our local Hallmark put the cards right up front so you couldn’t miss them as soon as you walked in the door and included a sign stating “New Arrivals”. We lived in Kansas City years ago which is the home of Hallmark. Beautiful store there. Founders of Hallmark have to be turning over in their graves. I also will not spend $5.00 for a card from Hallmark when I can get one that works just as well at the Dollar Tree for $1 - but that is a separate issue.
These days supermarkets, drugstores and discount stores have greeting cards for far less than the Hallmark stores. The supermarket closest to me has a whole section of $1.00 cards. Last year, I bought some really beautiful boxed Christmas cards at the supermarket for a fraction of what Hallmark stores charge.
Seems to be a trend, this new interest in glaciers instead of Christmas trees?
...
I think the same story has been posted a 100 times.
I bought some software several years ago thinking maybe I could just make my own cards. Appears a tee shirt I saw recently would apply to my endeavor: “Measure twice, cut twice, swear, throw it away and buy more”.
Dollar cards are fine. Guess I don’t agree that Hallmark is the very best anymore. After all, it is just a card and will more than likely end up in the trash. It’s the thought that matters anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.