Selling Christmas trees, anyone ever done it?

troubleinparadise

Locally to me a farmer grows and sells xmas trees to both the "trade" and onsite in his yard.

He told me he makes money on the cheaper trees he sells bulk to trade, but loses money on the more expensive ones he sells individually to locals in his farmyard - the wages for the staff & netting costs etc exceed what he makes from them.

He only keeps doing it because of local pressure - for now!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

in your '10 minute' plan you have not factored in any waste/unsold trees.


With any type of business you have got to remember not ALL your stock will sell, and you have got a VERY time Ltd product..


If your potential supplier has already 3 different outlets for their trees, why don't you approach them, and see if you could strike up some sort of deal, with them supplying everything, and you selling on their behalf?? and take a small commission etc on each tree, this way you will not be stuck with unsold trees...plus you can give them a bond upfront, to show you are not going to run off with their trees/money etc


PLUS to be honest it does seem a lot of faffing/gamble/time etc just to come away with £100 or so ( that's if you sell them) .


Plus don't forget, loads and loads of people are cutting back this year, I know there is no way I would spend £45 on a tree, as that is not far off a weeks shop for us


Maybe it might be worth you putting your energy into thing/finding something that will be more long term for you


good luck

Savvy_Sue

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

in your '10 minute' plan you have not factored in any waste/unsold trees.

And I'm pretty certain that if you take a car load of Christmas trees to your local household refuse site you will be interrogated as to their provenance, and sent away with a flea in your ear to dispose of them commercially.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I actually had a day off from my work yesterday, and went to the royal welsh winter show, and then, went to have a look around some of the local towns etc...


It looks as though the average price of a good quality Christmas tree was £25, and these prices were from local independent businesses, pets hops, in town hardware/garden centre etc...


I don't know if that is a general local price, or it would be the norm nationally...

Atidi

Atidi wrote: »

meanbean wrote: »

They go for £40+ here (urban) at the start of December. We buy early on the basis of getting as much value for money out of the tree as possible! You could always use those wood bases that are offcuts from trunks. A local MOT garage turns its forecourt into a tree selling zone.

A quick google indicates even Asda were originally charging only £25 for a tree between 5' and 7' last year.

... then they reduced them to just £12.50 in the week or so before Christmas.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/half-price-real-christmas-trees-park-royal-asda-london-1411195

Just to let you know, I was in Asda yesterday and they now have cut christmas trees available (They've had some smaller pot grown ones for about a week priced at £20)

The cut ones are 1.5m - 1.8m tall and currently priced at £25, so same price as last year.

Please don't let your local MOT station (or wherever you get your Christmas tree from) rip you off again this year.

FatVonD

Thanks again all that have contributed. I have managed to pick up three weeks of freelance shifts throughout December (and a £10 Christmas tree at Sainsburys!) so don't need to sell Christmas trees!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

FatVonD wrote: »

Thanks again all that have contributed. I have managed to pick up three weeks of freelance shifts throughout December (and a £10 Christmas tree at Sainsburys!) so don't need to sell Christmas trees!

good news VonD...


Fingers crossed for the new year, on the work front....