All about...

ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREES

The Christmas season is a very special time for buying. One of the main places on the lists of goods takes… the Christmas tree. Here you can find the information that let you plan and sell the trees. Before you plan your actions – check the plantation you want your trees from. Satisfaction of your customers and your profit depends on it!

Norway spruce

One of the most popular species of conifer trees in Europe.
In the nature it grows up 40 to 50 meters.
Characteristics: Its needles are short and sharp, regularly arranged on the shoots, with intensive aroma.
It was also widely planted for use as a Christmas tree, now less popular.
Not very expensive, easily planted.
Disadvantages: very sharp needles falling in a very short time.

Blue spruce

It origins from North America.
Characteristics: Its needles are of bluish colour with intensive, resinous aroma.
In the nature it has got a wide crown and grows up to about 30 meters.
Widely planted in Europe for gardens and Christmas trees.
Disadvantages: stabbing needles.

Scots pine

It occurs in the northern and central Europe.
Characteristics: Its needles are grey green and the shape is unsymmetrical, the form is low.
Disadvantages: hard and sharp long needles coiled around the pivot.

Nordmann fir

The finest Christmas tree.
It can be found mainly in the mountains of Caucasus and north-west Turkey.
In the nature the fir can come up even to the age of 500 years old, its trunk diameter can reach 2 meters and it can grow up to 60 m tall.
Characteristics: Nice symmetrical shape with long, wide and glossy dark green needles covering the wig.
Difficult to plant in Poland, needs mild winters and precipitation more than 1000 mm a year.

Which tree to choose?

The most popular and cheapest is the Norway spruce, but early falling needles are the biggest disadvantage. The blue spruce with its intensive scent may injure children or pets. Scots pine is a good choice for people looking for original forms.

But the best choice among Christmas trees is Caucasian fir. Its almost silky needles do not fall but get get brown and dry after a few months. Unfortunately%2S difficulties with planting and growing make it a bit more expensive. However, Christmas is only once a year. If we look for an original look and we want Christmas mood to stay longer, Caucasian fir will be the best choice.

More information about how to choose, care and decorate the tree and everything you should know about Christmas you can find at www.choinki.com.

A CHRISTMAS TREE IN MY GARDEN?

Is it possible that my Nordmann fir tree will grow in my garden?

It depends on the roots. Plantation Perfect Green guarantees a purfect shape and quality of look trees sold by them. However, we should remember that each fir has a taproot, deep in the soil and it does not fit to the pot so it has to be cut. Trees sold in our plantation have their roots significantly cut when dug out. This is the reason that they are fresh till the spring but the possibility that they will take root in the garden is poor. Because of this we offer our trees only during the Christmas season.

What factors decide about success in growing Nordmann fir?

The most important factors are the quality of soil, sunny place and precipitation connected with a temperate climate. Mild winters and lack of frost in the spring are also essential. Planting trees with strong root freshly dug out gives more chances to succeed. The best time to plant trees is the end of September or the second half of April.

Where can I find information and advice about growing trees?

You can look for information in the nearest garden centre. You can also visit our webpage choinki.com – there you will find a lot of information concerning Christmas trees and those about growing it among them.

SELLING THE TREES – ADVICE FOR SELLERS

WHAT TO BUY? ASSORTMENT

Pay attention to:

A place you are going to put up your stall and people who are shopping there.
Tailor your assortment to your customers possibilities.
Differ your offer to match your customers’ demands.
Take into consideration local preferences regarding the height of trees.

Take into consideration the newest trends and remember:

Quality demands are higher.
Share of firs sale is constantly growing.
The average height of a Christmas tree is decreasing.

In your stall you will have to have:

The Norway spruce or blue spruce
Nordmann fir of higher class (1st or 2nd)
Nordmann fir of lower class (3rd or even 4th)

WHEN TO ORDER? ORGANISING SALES

The schedule is matched to the periods of growth.

From the winter till the end of May firs are liable to freezing, and till the end of July they are growing intensively so it is impossible to agree on a price.
From the beginning of August plantations present their pricing. Trees are counted, qualified to the specific classes and labelled.
From August to October agreements are made between plantation owners and wholesalers, retail customers make their orders later.
About 20th November, but not earlier than the first frost, we start cutting trees for export.
From 20th to 30th November wholesalers and foreign customers collect their orders.
From 1st to 10th December trees are put on retail sale and it is important to keep terms as…
From 30th November to 5th December institutions, restaurants and companies buy their trees.
About 10th December the last freshly cut trees leave the plantation and are delivered to the most patient customers.
After 10th December retail customers start their shopping.
As a standard about 19th December 50% of trees should be sold and at the last weekend before Christmas Eve – the other 50%.

HOW TO INCREASE SALE:

Mark your stall in an attractive way.
Lit your stall and decorate it.
Make sure your staff is polite and competent.
Guarantee delivery of the tree home.
Think of Christmas elements оn your staff’s dress.
Consider on-line ordering.
Think about help for customers (a trolley to get the tree to the car).
Attach bonuses.
Organize a contest for buyers and opportunity to win prizes (give a link to the contest).
Remember to tidy the stall and remove all the trees that were not sold not later than on Christmas Eve. Do not leave the place untidy as it may have bad influence for the future.

Invest in necessary equipment.

You will need a tube to pack trees into a net - 45 cm in diameter is the best.
Stand to complete the tree.
You will need a good light. In December at about 15.00 it is dark. LED lamps are the best option; for the square of 50 sq.m you will need 2 to 4 LED lamps powered 20-50 W each.

Stands

All-purpose stand regulated with screws are most popular. Another system needs the tree trunk to be hewn till 60 mm and put into the tube. It decreases vitality of the tree as it cannot absorb and transfer up moisture.
You may advise your customers to use some modern solution – it needs to drill a hole in the trunk and put it on the special pin in the stand but the tree can be watered (for example Easy Fix system).

HOW MUCH YOU CAN MAKE?

The calculation shows that the retail price should be at the level of 200% (for more expensive classes) to 250% (for cheaper classes ) of plantation's price.
You have to pay for renting the place – not more than 15%-20% of your sales value.
In some places you will have also to pay a special market fee.
Organizing your stall, equipment and staff makes your cost grow.
After selling 60% of the trees you will get your costs back.
After selling 90% of the trees you will succeed.
You sold everything? You are the best!

And all of this will make that your customers’ dreams will come true and will provide sellers rich Christmas.

TOOLS

pobierz arkusz - kalkulator zamówień
pobierz arkusz rozliczeń