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How to Start a Christmas Tree Lot

Location, Location, Location!!!!!!

*Try to have your lot in a nicer neighborhood, near stores and strip malls.  Consider the flow of traffic, and make sure it would be easy for the customer to drive in and out.  Talk to some of your local chain stores, perhaps they will give you the space in order to bring foot traffic into their store.  Make sure the location has adequate parking.

*Locate an electrical source that you could run an extension cord from so you can set up lights, a heater, etc.  Generators tend to be noisy.

*Decide on your prices after asking local people what they paid for the same size and type of tree the previous year.

*Be sure to get clearance from the local authorities.  You will probably need a permit.

*Have a handout ready,  for how to care for the tree.

*You will need a covered area for conducting all transactions. 

*Have attractive signage, perhaps something made professionally, so you can use it from year to year.

*Plan to string lights, and maybe even play Christmas music.  Consider anything else that might attract customers to your lot--A blowup Santa?  Someone dressed like Santa or an elf, waving at people?

*You might want to supply coffee and hot chocolate for your customers.  Be sure to include that in your signage.

*Set up a schedule for your group, making sure the lot is guarded at night with someone staying in a warm camper.

*Decide on when you will start your lot and plan on having the trees delivered one day in advance, to allow for set up, and the guarantee of fresh trees.

*Plan on cutting the butts off of the trees and displaying them in water, advertising that your trees are fresh.  Consider having several shipments, so the supply of trees is as fresh as possible.

*Consider a second fundraiser, picking up the trees after Christmas.  Turn them into bark chips!

*You will need a covered area for conducting all transactions. 

*Have attractive signage, perhaps something made professionally, so you can use it from year to year.

*Plan to string lights, and maybe even play Christmas music.  Consider anything else that might attract customers to your lot--A blowup Santa?  Someone dressed like Santa or an elf, waving at people?

*You might want to supply coffee and hot chocolate for your customers.  Be sure to include that in your signage.

*Set up a schedule for your group, making sure the lot is guarded at night with someone staying in a warm camper.

*Decide on when you will start your lot and plan on having the trees delivered one day in advance, to allow for set up, and the guarantee of fresh trees.

*Plan on cutting the butts off of the trees and displaying them in water, advertising that your trees are fresh.  Consider having several shipments, so the supply of trees is as fresh as possible.

*Consider a second fundraiser, picking up the trees after Christmas.  Turn them into bark chips!