I was kicking back a couple of weeks ago and there wasn’t much on the tube so I started watching one of the Home Shopping Channels “Christmas in July” shows.

There they were – artificial trees, pre-lit and not just with the ubiquitous white minis but with fiber optics specially tied to give primary focal spots of light.  Pricing?  Very user friendly.  Next they showed special electrical boxes that accommodate eight plug ins of 4 light strands each and buttons that made the lights blink, sequence, or stay on.  In short, the Holiday products for the consumer are getting more sophisticated every year.   Then, last night, I clicked on to QVC and there was the wreath of my Interiorscaper dreams.  It was 26 inches in diameter, artificial with  2 different needle types, completely Prelit with LED lights that had a crystal frame around each one to give off the whitest of white lights, and with its very own Battery Pack complete with sunlight off, dusk on timer. And, if that wasn’t enough, the batteries lasted so the wreath was good for 40 days!  No more 8-10 hours.  Nope, now you can buy a battery operated wreath that will never have to be relit and the  power will sustain it through the entire season.  This wonder of wonders cost all of 26 bucks plus shipping and was being presented on air by the Bethlehem (aka GKI) representative.  With my mouth open I watched as tens of thousands of these beauties went flying off to consumers.   Next time I go to Dallas, believe me I will look for these incredible wreaths not just at GKI but at other importers as well.  For us ’scapers it could give us the product our clients want-the on all the time wreath.  Still, it upset me that this was available to every Harry and Harriet out there in consumer land.

You’ve Got to Stay On TOp
Now what does this mean for the Holiday ‘Scaper?  It means that you, too, have to move forward and continually update your skills and Holiday offerings.  What once was out of the scope of most people is now available at every Home Depot, Lowe’s or on the TV.  To stay one ornament draped branch ahead of the pack you have to do your homework.  Homework, like going to market, attending Holiday seminars, visiting local distributors and talking to company reps.

If you are a relatively small Holiday Design provider – a visit to your local wholesaler, talking to company reps or attending regional gift mart shows may suffice.  Companies that are doing larger amounts of Holiday work probably should attend large regional market shows like the ones held in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago in January and February.  For some companies attending once every other year is sufficient, still others do so much Holiday they need to attend yearly.  Let your needs dictate what you have to spend on travel.

And keep an eye on the Home Shopping Channels right about now.  They seem to have the very inside track.