Wreath Business Born Out Of Necessity

Wreath Business Born Out Of Necessity 30-5-9 It was nearing Christmas season and work was slow for Christy Maitland's husband, who works as a logger. She knew she had to do something or the family wouldn't have a very Merry Christmas. Maitland decided to sell some Christmas wreaths. She put six of her creations on display at a local gas station. "Two hours later the clerk called up and told me all my wreaths had sold that I should make more," says Maitland. So she got busy gathering boughs, cones and ribbons. In the end, she made $800 total in a few weeks. But more than that, Maitland says, "I was pretty proud of myself and thought maybe I should do more of this." That was a little more than twelve years ago and today she makes about 300 wreaths per year. She sells 100 wreaths to a hospice at a local hospital at a discount, where they sell them to raise money. Additionally, she gets orders to ship wreaths everywhere like Alaska and Hawaii. She sells the rest locally. Maitland branched out and now makes swags, centerpieces and kissing balls. Kissing balls are a floral oasis that holds water. "Everything goes into the centerpiece that I think will look good and stay alive," explains Maitland. "This includes willow branches and flowers like carnations because they last a long time." Besides her Christmas business, Maitland runs a successful greenhouse during the spring and summer months. But six years ago when the business launched, she had no experience. Maitland will tell you, "I was learning the business as the plants were growing. It was trial and error." Her obstacles were finding wholesalers, learning about fertilizers, and figuring out the retail and marketing side of the business. All this trial and error came about because she says, "I was scared crazy to go into an office and sit." Today the greenhouse, like her wreath business, has expanded. And people call or come from all over to buy her natural products, be it flowers, vegetables or wreaths. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Christy Maitland, Mountain Meadow Nursery, 25508 S. Willow Creek, Medimont, Idaho 83842 (ph 208 689-9233).

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