Christmas in July

Going All Out (From page 152)

glittery picks (florals or other items that you can stick in the tree) are another popular buy. “They take up a good amount of space so the tree looks full without having to spend a lot of money on a whole bunch of ornaments,” said Hollingshead.

In a year-round Christmas store, a well-lit Christmas tree is a perfect way to display your wares, said Hollingshead. For instance, full size Santas, signs and picks can all fit within the branches. “You can put almost everything in a Christmas tree,” she continued.

Lighting makes displays a lot more attractive, said Hollingshead. Tiny LED lights work well. They stock garland lights with bulbs spaced so closely on the green cord that it produces five times more light in a tree than a traditional string of lights could.

“When you can light up the ornaments they really shine,” said Hollingshead.

Business has picked up – especially within this past year, said Hollingshead – in their 4,000-square-foot Christmas store, established in 1993. They also have a gift store and ladies’ boutique, all connected so you can shop all of the stores without having to go outside.

At The Christmas Haus with two stores in New Oxford and Gettysburg, Pa., they have noticed a trend in mystical woodland ornaments, including gnomes, elves, fairies, mushroom houses and dragons in their combined retail space of 4,000 square feet.

“They are charming and whimsical and I think people find a certain level of escapism in them,” commented Owner

Roger Lund . “Like there might be a better world, even if it is deep in a forest.”

In terms of decorations, birds and figural (for example, Santas, snowmen and forest figures) are the top sellers, along with brightly colored reflectors.

They stay with themes to allow the customer to focus, expressed Lund. “Because we have thousands of ornaments, it is hard for customers to focus unless we do things like create a Santa tree, or a tree with food items,” Lund said. ❖