If you grew up in a suburb anytime between the sixties and the late nineties, you know the glow. It wasn't the sharp, piercing blue of modern LEDs. It was a warm, slightly humming, orange-red radiance emanating from a hollow plastic figure staked into a snowy lawn. Most of those iconic figures—the ones with the rosy cheeks and the slightly chipped paint—came from a company called Union Products.
Specifically, the Union Products blow mold Santa is the white whale for many holiday enthusiasts today.
You’ve probably seen them at flea markets or tucked away in a grandparent's garage. They aren't high-tech. They aren't "smart." Honestly, they are basically just oversized orange juice bottles shaped like Father Christmas and shoved full of a C7 light bulb. But there is a reason people pay hundreds of dollars for a specific Don Featherstone design on eBay while modern inflatables rot in landfills after two seasons.
The Leominster Legend and the Death of the Original Union Products
Union Products was based in Leominster, Massachusetts. For decades, this town was the "Plastics Capital of the World." You can't talk about these Santas without mentioning Don Featherstone. He’s the guy who invented the pink flamingo. He was also the creative force behind much of the Union Products catalog.
The process was simple but effective. Blow molding involves melting plastic resin and blowing air into it inside a metal mold. It’s the same way a soda bottle is made. This created a lightweight, durable, and weather-resistant shell. In 2006, the world of kitsch took a massive hit. Union Products shut down its Leominster factory. They couldn't compete with cheap overseas manufacturing and the rising cost of electricity and resin.
For a few years, it looked like the Union Products blow mold Santa was a dying breed. The molds—the literal heavy metal casts used to make these things—were sold off. Some went to a company called Faster-Form, others eventually landed with Cauthorn Plastics.
✨ Don't miss: Am I Gay Buzzfeed Quizzes and the Quest for Identity Online
Eventually, General Foam Plastics took over much of the market, but they too went belly up in 2017. It felt like the end of an era. Then, something weird happened. The nostalgia market exploded. People realized that the new stuff from big-box stores felt thin and flimsy. The old Union Santas? They were built like tanks.
Identifying a Real Union Products Santa
How do you know if you're holding a genuine Union piece or a knockoff? Look at the bottom. Most Union molds have a stamp or a raised logo. You'll often see "Union Products Inc." and "Leominster, MA" molded right into the plastic.
The paint is another giveaway. Older Union Santas used a specific type of paint that, while prone to some flaking over fifty years, has a matte quality that modern Chinese imports can't seem to replicate. Modern versions often look too shiny or "toy-like." The classic Union Santa has a certain dignity in his expression.
There are several variations to hunt for:
The 40-inch Standing Santa is the most common. He’s holding a list or a bell, and he fits perfectly on a porch. Then you have the Sleigh and Reindeer sets. If you find a full Union sleigh team in good condition, you’ve basically found a holy grail. The "Tabletop" Santas are smaller, usually around 12 to 18 inches, and were meant for windowsills.
🔗 Read more: Easy recipes dinner for two: Why you are probably overcomplicating date night
Why Plastic Junk Became Fine Art
It’s easy to dismiss these as tacky. But collectors don’t see junk. They see a specific Americana aesthetic that is vanishing.
Take the "Candy Cane Santa." It’s a classic Union design where Nick is holding a giant striped cane. In the secondary market, a mint-condition version with the original cord and no "melt marks" can fetch a premium. Melt marks happen when someone puts a high-wattage bulb inside a plastic shell meant for a 5-watt or 7-watt nightlight bulb. The plastic sags. It scars. It ruins the value.
Collectors like Michelle Funk and various members of the "Blow Mold Nation" Facebook groups spend all year hunting these down. They don't just display them; they restore them. They use plastic-bonding paints like Krylon Fusion to bring the faded reds back to life. They retro-fit them with LED bulbs that stay cool to prevent the dreaded melting.
The Cauthorn and Union Resurrection
Good news for the purists: Union Products isn't technically dead. The name and many of the original molds were acquired by a company called Cauthorn Plastics (operating as Union Products again). They’ve been trickling out "New Old Stock" style Santas for the last few years.
While they use the original molds, the plastic is sometimes slightly different. It’s cleaner. It doesn't have the "patina" of a 1974 original. Some collectors prefer the vintage grime, while others just want a Santa that doesn't have a hole in his head from a hail storm.
💡 You might also like: How is gum made? The sticky truth about what you are actually chewing
The Logistics of Collecting Large Plastic Men
If you’re going to get into the Union Products blow mold Santa game, you need space. Lots of it. You can't exactly fold these down like an inflatable.
Storing them in an attic is a gamble. Extreme heat can warp the plastic over time. A basement is better, provided it isn't damp. Most serious collectors use climate-controlled sheds. You also have to deal with the weight. While light individually, a collection of twenty Santas becomes a logistical nightmare when the wind picks up.
Pro tip: Don't use the original "stakes" if they're still attached. They snap. Most people today use a piece of rebar driven into the ground, then slide the hollow Santa over it. It keeps him from flying into the neighbor's yard during a December gale.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you're looking to start your own plastic North Pole, don't just go to eBay. The shipping on a 40-inch piece of hollow plastic is astronomical because of "dimensional weight" pricing. You'll pay $50 for the Santa and $80 for the box.
- Hit the Estate Sales early. Use sites like Estatesales.net and search for "Christmas" or "holiday." Look for the houses that haven't been updated since 1980.
- Check Facebook Marketplace in July. People clean out their garages when it's hot. They don't want to store that "big plastic thing" anymore. That’s when you strike.
- Inspect the cord. Always. The original wiring in 60s and 70s Union Santas is often brittle. It’s a fire hazard. Fortunately, you can buy replacement "blow mold light cords" with the clip-in base for about five bucks at most hardware stores.
- Avoid the "Sun Bleach." If a Santa has spent thirty years facing South, his red suit will be a ghostly pink. Unless you are skilled at color-matching plastic paint, leave the bleached ones behind.
- Look for the "Don Featherstone" signature. On some later models, his signature is actually molded into the base. These are highly prized by those who appreciate the history of the company.
The Union Products blow mold Santa represents a time when we decorated our homes with things meant to last a lifetime. They are loud, they are bright, and they are unapologetically festive. Whether you're a hardcore collector or just someone who wants a piece of their childhood back on the front lawn, these plastic icons remain the gold standard of holiday nostalgia.