Frequently Asked Questions

Wholesale Orders

Should I sell Christmas Trees?

We service a wide range of customer types.

  1. Garden Centers
  2. Landscape Companies
  3. Individuals
  4. Civic Groups

Christmas trees can extend cash flow into the slower Fall/Winter months for a garden center or landscape company. It can be a fun family activity. It is a great fundraiser for a school.

Example Fraser Fir Order
5 5/6′ #1 Quality 10 20″ Single Sided Wreaths
30 6/7′ #1 Quality 10 24″ Single Sided Wreaths
55 7/8′ #1 Quality 2 36″ Single Sided Wreaths
10 8/9′ #1 Quality
10 6/7′ #2 Quality 1 75′ Roll Fraser Fir Garland
10 7/8′ #2 Quality

We generally recommend to our first time customers that you start small with 100-150 trees. This amount provides an ample selection and we want you to be succesful your first year. Your sales and experience will allow you to adjust and modify your order each year.

For first time orders, center your order with 6/7′ and 7/8′ trees and including a few smaller and larger trees for variety. You might also mix in some #2 quality trees. This gives a cheaper option for your customers so no one leaves your lot without a tree. This also allows you to compete on price and still provide a great tree.

Please email us to request a pricelist.

We specialize in small orders. As a result, we typically ship multiple orders on the same truck. This allows customers to share freight. The majority of our customers enjoy a cheap freight rate of 2.00-$5.00 per tree.

All freight prices are F.O.B Newland, North Carolina.

We request that your order be completed and submitted by October 15th. This is not a deadline. However, this is when we begin finalizing our shipping manifest. Please submit your order early to insure that you receive the best frieght rate. Order changes may be adjusted up until your order is shipped.

Unless otherwise agreed, we request a deposit of twenty (20%) percent on or before October 15th.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we request the balance of your order upon delivery. A service fee of one and one/half (1 1/2%) percent per month or a rate established by the farm, will be charged on delinquent balances.

8. When will my order arrive?

The majority of our customers request their trees the week before or the week of Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving weekend is typically the biggest Christmas tree sales weekend. By requesting your trees at this time, you have time to prepare your lot and display your trees.

We also offer multiple deliveries. Many customers request half of their order to be delivered before Thanksgiving and the remainder of their order to be delivered 1-2 weeks later. This gaurantees that you have the freshest trees.

9. How should I price my trees?

There are a couple of options we find succesful. First, you may decide to individually price each tree. Being a natural product, each tree is unique and this option gives you the opportunity to maximize the potential of each tree. Second, you may price each tree size the same regardless of quality. This is a great strategy if you mix in #2 quality trees. Your profit margin is increased on the #2 quality trees while also giving you negotiation potential.

10. Is there a sales tax on Christmas Trees?

There is no sales tax charged to your order. However, you may be responsible for the payment of any federal, state, or local taxes required in your area.

The majority of our customers request their trees the week before or the week of Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving weekend is typically the biggest Christmas tree sales weekend. By requesting your trees at this time, you have time to prepare your lot and display your trees.

We also offer multiple deliveries. Many customers request half of their order to be delivered before Thanksgiving and the remainder of their order to be delivered 1-2 weeks later. This gaurantees that you have the freshest trees.

There are a couple of options we find succesful. First, you may decide to individually price each tree. Being a natural product, each tree is unique and this option gives you the opportunity to maximize the potential of each tree. Second, you may price each tree size the same regardless of quality. This is a great strategy if you mix in #2 quality trees. Your profit margin is increased on the #2 quality trees while also giving you negotiation potential.

There is no sales tax charged to your order. However, you may be responsible for the payment of any federal, state, or local taxes required in your area.

Capital at Play article

Retail Tree Delivery & Care

The delivery of your Christmas trees can be an exciting time. Their arrival renews the holiday cheer, excitement, and traditions. On the other hand, they can also be overwhelming if you are not prepared.

Before your shipment arrives, it is very important that you communicate with the individual who is delivering your trees. We will provide you with this information before they depart from the farm. This will assure that you are prepared to receive and promptly store/display your trees and greenery.

Keep your trees shaded.

  • Store trees in a shaded area.
  • The North or East side of a building may work well too. Awnings, lathe houses, or shadecolth structures may be used if natural shade is unavailable.
  • Do not leave bailed trees in the sun.

Store trees upright

  • Trees stored standing up have less exposure to sunlight and lose water less.

Keep your trees moist

  • Store trees upright on sawdust or mulch to help retain water.
  • Mist stored trees periodically to reduce temperature and minimize moisture loss.

Display tree is shade, and/or water

  • Trees displayed this way lose far less water and stay fresh.

Put a fresh cut on the stump for your customer

  • This will insure that the tree will take up water.

Provide customers with tree care information

Storage/Display Suggestions

Numerous methods may effectively be used to store and display your trees. A few that we find very successful are listed below.

The most effective storage method are “water troughs.” Being as delicate as fresh cut flower, the “shelf life” of your fresh cut Fraser fir is dramatically prolonged when you store your trees this way. Recycling greenhouse covers can save expense.

tree lot tent

Another superb storage method is a tent. It may be used for storage only but is also a great place to display your trees. A tent will provide shelter during a rainy weekend when sales are key. It can be set up in a parking lot or open field preserving precious retail floor space inside a garden center.

If you don’t have the space or resources to store your trees in “water troughs,” you can still display all your trees in water with a tree stand. You can sell a tree with the stand as an incentive. You may consider offering a discount the following year if a customer brings their stand back.

shade cloth

Shade is your greatest priority. Shade cloth that blocks 85% of light or more has proven adequate.

Concrete and asphalt, unfortunately, are the most common “ground covers” Christmas trees are displayed on. Keeping the pavement wet will reduce the heat radiated under the trees and will help to keep the humidity high around the trees.

Guide to Setting up a Christmas Tree Lot

Freshness Problems

needle loss

Conifers will naturally shed needles every year on the interior of the tree. It is important to identify needle loss due to the exposure to sun and wind on the exterior of the tree. When trees become excessively dry, they lose their rich green color. Branches and bark shrivel. Needles become brittle and break off easily. Very dry trees may not take up water.

Solution

  • Reduce or eliminate exposure to sun and wind.
  • Water soil or mulch under stored/displayed trees.
  • Use a mechanical shaker to remove any needles that shed naturally.
  • Cull problem trees.
Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm

For more info or to order email us or call 828-733-1641

Map + Directions
© 2024 Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm. All Rights Reserved.