Colombian streamer Westcol reportedly received 260 million Colombian pesos (about US$81,300) for a two-hour livestream at El GranSan, a wholesale shopping center in Bogota’s San Victorino district. The Oct. 20 visit was intended to promote local businesses. However, a huge crowd gathered around the creator, making it difficult for him to leave.
Local media reported the substantial fee, drawing criticism as the mall’s wholesale merchants struggle with declining sales. Neither Westcol nor El GranSan’s administration had publicly confirmed the amount in the sources reviewed.
What was the reported agreement?
According to Infobae, Westcol initially requested 300 million Colombian pesos (about US$93,800) for an exclusive two-hour broadcast from El GranSan. Merchants reportedly negotiated the fee down by 40 million Colombian pesos (about US$12,500), leaving the final amount at 260 million Colombian pesos (about US$81,300).
The same report said the arrangement required the shopping center to close during the livestream. The available reporting did not include a contract or other document confirming the payment or the precise conditions.
During the livestream on his official account, Westcol said he had come to help “boost commerce” at El GranSan, describing the visit as part of a plan to reactivate the shopping center.
The center’s manager explained that local businesses were struggling because consumers were buying fewer Colombian-made products and turning to online platforms. She said El GranSan had 730 brands and 450 exhibitors participating in its early-morning wholesale market, and described merchants who sometimes spent an entire day without making a sale.
Westcol backed her appeal, acknowledging that Colombians sometimes undervalue locally made products. He urged viewers to support Colombian businesses and shop at local stores, including during the final months of the year.
San Victorino’s commercial pressures
San Victorino is one of Bogota’s main commercial districts, bringing together wholesale warehouses, independent shops and street vendors selling clothing, footwear and accessories. Many buyers purchase wholesale goods here to resell nationwide. The shopping center serves as a critical link in Colombia’s retail economy.
In September, the Bogota Council reported that wholesale sales in the district had fallen by an estimated 40% to 50%. It cited competition from Asian online platforms, informal sales and the costs facing formal businesses among the pressures on local commerce. The report also described an area with approximately 25,000 business owners and 23,800 direct and indirect jobs.
Colombia’s monthly minimum wage is 1,750,905 pesos (about US$547). At that rate, a worker would need nearly 12.5 years of income to match Westcol’s reported US$81,300 fee for a two-hour stream. Alternatively, that single fee equals a full month’s pay for 148 workers.
Located along Carrera Decima, El GranSan serves wholesale buyers and individual customers. Its madrugon sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, generally running from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., attract merchants sourcing stock in bulk. The center’s reliance on in-person shopping makes its effort to draw attention through a major online creator commercially significant.
The livestream drew a crowd that organizers did not expect
Footage from the broadcast shows followers gathering around Westcol as he moved through the center and later struggled to leave. During the livestream, he explained that organizers shut down the shopping center at 1 p.m. because the turnout caught them unprepared.
Westcol acknowledged that the gathering became dangerous, describing people falling and getting hurt. He also helped a young woman whose foot had become trapped in a grate as people fell around her, and said she should receive medical attention.
Following the event, Westcol questioned whether he could still stream in public. He pointed to the safety hazards created by the massive turnout.
El GranSan is due to mark its 30th anniversary on Nov. 6, with a fashion event scheduled for the following day under the name “San Victorino esta bien” (San Victorino is fine). The event offers another opportunity for the shopping center to promote local businesses, this time through a planned commercial showcase.