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  • How long does it take to decorate the largest mall in the nation? Seventeen years ago it took more than five weeks to decorate Mall of America. The team has gotten so good at their job that, even with much more décor today, the holiday decorating crew finished the task in a record five days! Clayton Omberg and Chris Grap share the story of decorating for the holidays. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 75: Deck the Mall.

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • What are the hardest, and most amazing, holiday décor to put up at Mall of America? From giant toys to Enchanted Snowflakes, Clayton Omberg and Chris Grap share their stories on how they and the many helper elves decorate 5.6 million square feet of MOA for the holidays. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 75: Deck the Mall.

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

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  • Ep. 75: Deck the Mall [12/18/2024]Clayton Omberg, Mall of America’s Internal Maintenance Manager, joins this episode to take us on a visual tour of Mall of America’s holiday décor. Dan, Chris and Clayton share stories of what it takes to decorate the largest Mall in America and how they did it in record time this year. Spoiler alert, 5 nights to decorate 5.2 million square feet! They share stories of their favorite décor, nerd out on how many trees, bulbs, giant toys and miles of hanging twinkling lights they install and share some of their favorite holiday traditions along the way.

    2:55 How long it takes to decorate Mall of America4:40 Atrium décor description—Enchanted snowflakes, Nutcrackers + large Jack in the Box11:00 Decorating Nordstrom Court + hidden Easter Eggs on the giant bulbs13:42 Rotunda décor including 2-44’ tall tree’s with 1,200 branches16:30 10 miles of twinkling lights hang throughout. What happens when a bulb burns out?18:55 Holiday décor by the numbers23:26 The science and plan of taking the décor down and the massive storage unit24:11 Clayton, Chris and Dan share favorite holiday treats, traditions, meals and movies

    To learn more about Holiday Decor at Mall of America visit https://mallofamerica.com/press-release/28114Guests: Clayton Omberg, Internal Maintenance Manager at Mall of AmericaHosts: Daniel Jasper, Chris GrapPresented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Trinket and Garland – two of the most important elves from the North Pole – join this episode to shares stories of what it takes to be an elf. They and their fellow elves are a key part of creating holiday magic at The Candy Cane Institute at Mall of America, and for children around the world. Joining them is Mae Keapproth the head elf-wrangler. If you have questions about presents, wrapping, tinsel or the Big Man in Red himself, this episode is for you! Prepare for magic.

    3:15 What it takes to wrangle the elves at Mall of America4:20 What is The Candy Cane Institute (CCI) and where do you find it?5:30 A fun description of the science found at CCI8:00 When guests meet with The Jolly Old Elf himself13:00 An explanation of the Wrap-O-Matic machine16:15 Heartwarming stories straight from the elves19:30 A tale of one particularly challenging guest25:40 Two elves and our elf wrangler give life-advice to Santa27:30 A wish for the children of the world

    To learn more about The Candy Cane Institute at Mall of America visit https://mallofamerica.com/directory/candy-cane-institute

    Guests: Trinket (the elf); Garland (the elf); Mae Keapproth, Entertainment Manager at Mall of AmericaHosts: Daniel Jasper

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • This episode of So Much More is a special holiday treat. But fair warning to parentsif you’ve got little ones tuning in you might want to hit pause. We visit The Santa Experience right here at Mall of America and lift the curtain on magical secrets about the man in red. From magical wishes to meaningful moments, you will want to sit back and enjoy this conversation with Santa Sam, Santa Herman, and Santa Larry.

    1:00 Getting to know Santa Sam4:10 The importance of matching energy7:15 Why we should strive to lead with love8:25 A message from Santa Sam9:10 An introduction to Santa Herman11:00 As Santa Herman says in Spanish, “Feliz Navidad a todos y cada uno.”12:40 How to respond when a child asks for a live reindeer17:15 The one, the only, Santa Larry20:45 Surprising his nephews for Christmas23:30 The magic of meeting with children25:00 Santa’s wish for the children of the world

    To learn more about The Santa Experience at Mall of America visit:Website: www.TheSantaExperienceMN.comInstagram: @TheSantaExperienceMN Facebook: The Santa Experience MN

    Guests: Santa Sam, Santa Herman, Santa LarryHosts: Daniel Jasper

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • What’s one of the biggest stress points every holiday season? Finding the perfect gift. Well, this episode is for you. Lizzy Newsome, owner of Kappa Toys, and Hayley Matthews-Jones, owner of Minneapolis Craft Market discuss what they offer to holiday shoppers. Kappa Toys is a permanent tenant located on Level 2 South and features unique toys and plenty of play space. Minneapolis Craft Market is a seasonal pop-up at the Mall, located on Level 1, South featuring 40 artisans and opens on Black Friday and continues weekends through the holiday season. This fun conversation covers gift ideas from Nice Ice Baby to Monchhichi and from makers of 3-D printed gifts to hand-made jewelry to custom millinery.1:30 How Minneapolis Craft Market came to the Twin Cities3:55 All about Kappa Toys, a place for toys that everyone loves6:00 Best toy ideas for kids of all ages8:45 All about ‘blind boxes’ and finding the perfect ‘one’9:50 Hot gift items from Minneapolis Craft Market12:45 Walking into Minneapolis Craft Market is made to come to life16:30 Toys selected from around the world – unique and experiential19:00 The importance of celebrating small business22:15 Tips for prospective entrepreneurs

    To learn more about Kappa Toys, visit https://kappatoys.com/. To learn more about Minneapolis Craft Market, visit https://www.mplscraftmarket.com/. Guests: Lizzy Newsome, owner Kappa Toys; and Hayley Matthews-Jones, owner of Minneapolis Craft MarketHosts: Jill Renslow; Dan JasperPresented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Mall of America as we prepare for Black Friday and the holiday season. Hosts, Dan, Jill and Chris share how we get ready! From decorating and creating a magical atmosphere to shopping tips, prepping to welcome thousands on Black Friday, planning events and best ways to refuel, park and share memories with your friends and family, this fun conversation will have you excited to experience the wonder of the holiday season with us.1:09 Hosts share their favorite thing about the MOA holiday experience2:37 Chris details plans for Santa’s arrival + Black Friday7:40 What guests can expect Black Friday weekend: KFAN live broadcasting, Bells To Go performances11:40: Tips and strategies to conquer the shortened shopping season this year14:00 Favorite ‘experiences’ at MOA: Great Big Game Show, Cocoa Melon, Activate16:40 How to earn rewards by shopping at MOA with the Insiders app20:47 Parking and navigation tips at MOA25:40 Favorite new stores, brands and categories to shop29:44 Rapid Fire holiday questions with the hosts including favorite holiday stocking stuffers + favorite holiday drinksHosts: Daniel Jasper, Jill Renslow, Chris GrapPresented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Arik Hanson is a social media expert who helps mid-sized and large companies feel supremely confident about the way they show up in social. With more than 25 years of experience in social media and digital marketing, Arik has helped more than eighty companies achieve results. He is an early adopter in the field of social media, founded a social media blog in 2008 and is co-host of a podcast with more than 175 episodes, one of the longest running social media podcasts in Minnesota. He also is committed to inspiring and teaching the next generation of leaders.

    2:00 Video presence on social media is increasing. How to maximize that tool.2:20 The pro’s and con’s of executives hiring someone to run and post content on their social media channels versus doing it themselves3:20 How A.I. is shaping our social media content and best practices for using it7:15 There is a mental health crisis in our country especially as it relates to youth and social media. How do we handle this?10:00 Lessons Arik has learned being a professor and what students have taught him14:27 How to protect your brand when it’s brought into conversations on social media18:50 Arik’s picks for social media channels that are gaining ground right now such as Reddit and SubStack

    Check out Arik Hanson Social Media at: https://arikhanson.com/. Check out the Hanson & Hunt Podcast at: https://arikhanson.com/podcast/.

    Guest: Arik Hanson, Owner of Arik Hanson Social Media, adjunct professorHosts: Daniel Jasper, Jill Renslow

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • What are the secrets and strategy behind effectively using LinkedIn as a professional? Learn when and how to post, sharing corporate content, and the best way to highlight your team using your genuine personality. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 69: Arik Hanson Social Media Expert part 1.

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Arik Hanson is a social media expert who helps mid-sized and large companies feel supremely confident about the way they show up in social. With more than 25 years of experience in social media and digital marketing, Arik has helped more than eighty companies achieve results. He is an early adopter in the field of social media, founded a social media blog in 2008 and is co-host of a podcast with more than 175 episodes, one of the longest running social media podcasts in Minnesota. He also is committed to inspiring and teaching the next generation of leaders.

    1:45 Arik’s professional journey including early missteps along the way5:25 Realizing social media could change the word – and careers8:10 Understanding the origins and transformation of social platforms8:45 The myth of ‘creating a viral video’10:15 What life really is like being a solo practitioner11:45 The real-life obstacles of working on your own – including loneliness15:45 Getting involved with outside groups drives innovation, creativity and growth18:00 The value of LinkedIn to the professional21:00 A misconception many users have about LinkedIn22:45 Tips on how to build engaging and consistent content25:30 The balance between celebration and vulnerability

    Check out Arik Hanson Social Media at: https://arikhanson.com/. Check out the Hanson & Hunt Podcast at: https://arikhanson.com/podcast/.

    Guest: Arik Hanson, Owner of Arik Hanson Social Media, adjunct professor

    Hosts: Daniel Jasper, Jill Renslow

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Beauty is having its moment – over the last few years this category has blossomed. When looking at the latest beauty trends and brands: What is attainable? How is it innovative? How do brands hop on trends – or lead them? And innovative, strategic marketing is critical to succeed. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 68: Glossy Brands Finding Inspiration in Beauty and Fashion.

  • How does a beauty and fashion information brand connect with their followers and stay timely? It’s about meeting the customer where they are. Keeping stories short and to the point. Leaning into pop culture. And use outside experts. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 68: Glossy Brands Finding Inspiration in Beauty and Fashion.

  • Jill Manoff, Editor-in-Chief of Glossy and Global Editorial Director for Glossy Brands shares everything fashion, beauty, brands, trends + wellness with our hosts. Manoff shares insights into the Glossy Brand, how it continues to grow and evolve, as well as sharing how brands continue to be innovative to meet new consumer expectations. Host Jill Renslow and co-host Sara Johnson engage in the conversation from style to pop culture.

    1:00 All about Glossy Brand2:30 The holiday outlook for fashion and beauty – playing it safe6:05 Brands that have entered the physical retail space – think Rent The Runway9:30 How pop culture influences fashion and beauty10:45 Brands that tap into culture and move at the speed of light12:05 Why Glossy resonates so well with its audience13:20 Finding the balance between our expertise and our audience expectations14:45 How Glossy appeals to audiences on different platforms17:00 Trends and leaders in the beauty market22:40 How Jill refreshes during her down time – a sense of normalcy24:45 The need for a mood board and escape the day-to-day grind

    You can check out Glossy at https://www.glossy.co/ and the Glossy podcast at https://www.glossy.co/podcasts/.

    Guests: Jill Manoff, Editor in Chief of Glossy and Global Editorial Director for Glossy Brands; Sara Johnson, Integrated Marketing Director at Mall of America

  • How does a new business take shape? From the first idea to the first sale the journey can be winding. Jason Hammerberg at Hammer Made custom shirts shares the steps he took to go from a business plan to reality. Inspiration, connections, partnerships and perseverance can lead to success. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 67: Hammer Made; An Entrepreneur’s Story.

  • Where does inspiration come from? The answer can be different for every person, brand or product. For Jason Hammerberg at Hammer Made custom shirts, part of his inspiration came from a small men’s shirt shop near an ancient bridge in Venice, Italy. The key is giving the design an opportunity to shine. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 67: Hammer Made; An Entrepreneur’s Story.

  • How does an entrepreneur and dreamer take their passion for something and turn it into a thriving business? Jason Hammerberg, CEO and Founder of Hammer Made, a boutique men’s clothing line, shares the story of how he created a beloved brand. Hammer Made shirts have become a favorite for well-dressed men throughout the country. Having just celebrated 15 years, the store grew from one store in Edina to eight locations in premier destinations. But when starting a new business, and building a brand, the path is never straightforward and there are inevitable obstacles to face along the way. Tune in to hear how Jason and his team continues to learn and grow.

    1:40 Jason’s start in men’s clothing as a young man in Duluth – for the discount2:40 Why he created the brand, Hammer Made, to be a rule breaker4:25 How he created his vision and started the business, and stumbled along the way7:40 Opening his original store at Galleria12:55 What a first visit to Hammer Made is like, you need to start with the shirt14:45 How a shirt shop in Venice, Italy taught Jason how to merchandise17:55 Collaborating with a specialist in Portugal to design the colors of the season23:00 How the ‘office shirt’ changed since the great pandemic28:50 How a custom crafted shirt can become a collector’s item31:30 Advice for a hopeful entrepreneur

    You can check out Hammer Made at: https://www.hammermade.com/.

    Guests: Jason Hammerberg, CEO and Founder of Hammer Made; Carrie Charleston, VP/Head of Leasing at Mall of America

    Hosts: Jill Renslow; Daniel Jasper

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • From emojis to emails and from phone calls to text messages communicating across generations can be a challenge to put it mildly. Now with four generations in the workplace for the first time, where do you even begin? Well, we have the guest with the answers. Jen Hellman is CEO and President of Goff Public a communications and public relations firm. Jen is a sought-after speaker on the topic of Communicating Across Generations, and during this conversation she explains the different generational expectations and missteps found in workplaces today… and how to correct them.

    2:15 Jen explains her origins and early career in communications3:30 How Jen began focusing on communicating across generations5:00 The first time that four or five generations are in the workplace…together6:30 Boomer Generation the generation that began breaking rules, and are work-aholics8:40 Generation X the folks that spanned the analog and computer divide12:00 Millennials the people that are very self-confident; an army of one and authentic14:30 Gen Z the group that is more gender-fluid and value physical and emotional safety18:15 A-ha moments when communicating across generations19:55 Punctuation in text or emails? What does it mean to different generations?23:15 Tips for good communication and making a connection

    You can check out Goff Public at: https://goffpublic.com/

    Guests: Jen Hellman, CEO & President of Goff Public; Maggie Boedigheimer, Strategic Project Coordinator at Mall of America

    Hosts: Jill Renslow; Daniel Jasper

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Celebrities are nothing new to Mall of America, they’ve been a part of our story since the day we opened. During this short take a 25-year veteran ride operator Frank Gold speaks with Chris Grap and Brian Spielman from Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe. Frank shares the story of when he met Donny Osmond and called him out over a P.A. system on the carousel! Safety first, Frank. Safety first.

    To hear the entire conversation, check out So Much More Ep. 65: Frank Gold, Roller Coaster Enthusiast Shares the Thrills.

  • Can you imagine riding more than 500 roller coasters? 503 to be exact. And let’s be clear – that’s not riding a few roller coasters a whole bunch of times. That’s riding 503 different roller coasters around the world. My stomach is churning as I write this!

    Our guest, Frank Gold, is a veteran of operating rides for more than 25 years at Mall of America and retired just recently. He’s also an active member of American Coaster Enthusiasts and might just know more about roller coasters than just about anyone. He shares stories of his time at the Mall, his favorite roller coaster adventures, and where his love of coasters began. Join Chris Grap and Brian Spielman, both Mall of America team members, as they go down roller coaster memory lane with Frank Gold.

    1:30 Little Franky falls in love with coasters at Queen Anne Kiddieland4:30 Coasters he is looking forward to riding7:00 Ranking favorite coasters9:45 Favorite amusement parks12:10 Why Frank started working at Mall of America17:00 International parks Frank hopes to visit18:25 Frank dishes on a celebrity encounter with Donny Osmond21:20 Nominated for Diamond Service Award in a stretch limo23:50 Frank’s top must-see spots in Nickelodeon Universe for sports fans

    Guests: Frank Gold, 25-year veteran ride operator at Mall of America; Brian Spielman VP of Attractions at Mall of America/Nickelodeon Universe

    Hosts: Chris Grap

    Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

  • Here’s a hint – Candy Corn is NOT most people’s favorite Halloween candy. Is it Nerds, Reese’s PB Cups, Gummi bears or Twix? During this short take, Ryan Miziker from American Monsters join the Mall of America team Chris Grap, Sierra Goerg and Meri Ryan to talk their all time favorite Halloween candy. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 64: Onionhead’s Revenge + Halloween Haunts.