Hire Santa Update | Shark Tank Season 10

Mitch Allen got the idea for his business while working as a Santa during the holidays. Too many people were asking him to show up at different events, and he couldn’t be in two places at once. So he started Hire Santa, a website that helps people book real, professional Santas fast. Will the sharks get behind it? Let’s find out in our Hire Santa update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Hire Santa after Shark Tank.

Mitch entered Shark Tank Season 10, seeking $200,000 for 10% equity in his Santa brand. Ultimately, he landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $200,000 for 50% equity until she made her money back, then 10% equity in perpetuity.

In terms of a Hire Santa update, the company landed major clients like Bloomingdale’s and the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. Since airing, Hire Santa has surpassed $7 million in total sales and expanded operations internationally.

Shark:	Result:
Barbara Corcoran	Accepted deal for $200,000 for 50% equity until money made back, then 10% equity in perpetuity
Kevin O’Leary	$200,000 for 50% equity, until money made back, then 15% equity in perpetuity
Daymond John	$200,000 for 50% equity, until money made back, then 15% equity in perpetuity
Lori Greiner	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Hire Santa Pitch

• Entrepreneur:  Mitch Allen
• Business: Santas for hire
• Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $200,000 for 50% equity until money back, then 10% equity in perpetuity
• Shark: Barbara Corcoran

Mitch walked into Shark Tank dressed as an elf. He brought along a group of Santas to set the holiday mood.

After greeting the sharks, he introduced himself as the founder of Hire Santa.

His company connects people with trained Santa performers during the holiday season. Customers can book Santas for home visits, company parties, retail events, or community functions.

Lori Greiner asked how much it costs to hire one. Mitch said the price depends on the type of event. Home visits cost between $200 to $300. For longer events, rates start at $50 an hour.

Mitch pointed out that Hire Santa works as an online platform. They match customers with Santas through their database.

He added that they have thousands of performers, and they’ve sent Santas to multiple countries.

Daymond John asked where they found these Santas. Mitch explained there’s a strong online Santa community. They use networking and digital marketing to recruit.

Mark Cuban asked about revenue. Mitch said they made $189,000 in their first year. The second year, they hit $331,000.

In the current year, his company was on pace to bring in $1 to $1.4 million.

Kevin O’Leary asked how they planned to grow that fast. Mitch said they had secured a contract with a major outdoor retail brand, which would drive most of the revenue.

Mark wants to know what the $200,000 investment would be used for. Mitch said it would go toward hiring key staff and improving their training videos.

Despite liking the concept, Lori dropped out. She said the business was too seasonal.

Mark agreed and also backed out. Daymond followed, saying it wasn’t the right fit for him. Barbara Corcoran dropped out too, pointing out the short earning window.

However, Kevin offered $200,000 for 50% equity. Mitch countered with 15%, but Kevin wasn’t interested.

Mitch then countered again – Kevin would get 50% equity until he recouped his money, then equity would drop to 10%.

Before Kevin could respond, Daymond returned. He agreed to do the last deal that Mitch suggested.

Then, Kevin offered to do it for 15% equity instead of 10% in perpetuity. Daymond matched that offer. Mitch stood firm at 10%.

In a shocking turn of events, Barbara suddenly jumped back in. She and Mitch agreed on $200,000 for 50% of company profits, until she made her investment back, and then 10% equity in perpetuity.

Do you think Mitch’s company found success following Shark Tank? Keep reading our Hire Santa update to find out

Shark Tank Hire Santa Update

By the end of that year, Hire Santa hit $1.4 million in sales.

In 2019, the company returned for a holiday update, landing big-name clients like Bloomingdale’s, T-Mobile, the Dallas Cowboys, and Ritz-Carlton.

Mitch hired a marketing team, closed more deals, and fully repaid Barbara.

When COVID hit in 2020, demand for in-person Santas dropped, but Mitch pivoted quickly.

He launched Zoom visits and personalized videos to keep revenue flowing. Those virtual services carried them through the lockdown, though demand for them dropped by over 80% by 2022.

That same year, the company saw a Santa shortage due to high demand and fewer available performers.

In 2023, we got another Hire Santa update during a Shark Tank episode. This time, we learned that they teamed up with Holiball for a holiday event at the Grand Galvez Hotel.

Further, since Shark Tank, Hire Santa has done over revealed over $7 million in total sales. They’ve now served all 50 states and expanded to Canada, Mexico, China, and more.

If you’d like to learn more or book a Santa for your event, you can check out the Hire Santa website.

We’re calling this Hire Santa update a success.

Before you go, check out our other company updates from Season 10 Episode 7 by following the links below!

• Ski-Z Update
• Prank-O Update
• Oatmeals Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 10 products.