Smaller Christmas shop opens that’s more sustainable

A CHRISTMAS decorations and gifts business has changed its format to become more manageable and sustainable.

The Tree Barn in Christmas Common, which re-opens for the season tomorrow (Saturday), will be half its usual size and have an emphasis on eco-friendly, fair-trade and handcrafted items.

Jane Ingram, 66, who has run the shop for 25 years, wants to reduce her working hours by streamlining the shop.

She said: “Previously, I would go to trade fairs around the country and in Germany from January and the shop was twice the size with twice the amount of stock.

“My brain starts to twitch at the thought of how many hours, days and weeks I have spent preparing for Christmas, working through spreadsheets and putting orders together — it’s jolly hard work.”

Mrs Ingram wants to be able to spend more time with her husband, Andrew, 77, who runs the Christmas tree farm and has Parkinson’s.

She said: “I want to take on less because Andrew isn’t particularly well and he needs more help.

“We’re both getting older and it’s very stressful at times as I’m working and worrying about the shop all year round.

“I want to be able to relax a bit more and have more time and patience to be nice to my husband in his old age.”

The new shop has moved away from stocking mass-produced plastic and will concentrate on high-quality products made from felt, paper and metal, which won’t break quickly or end up in landfill.

Mrs Ingram said: “I used to sell items like Santa Clauses and flying moose but they were expensive and would break or fall apart. I want to buy stuff that will last. Gradually over the years, I have tried to get more eco-friendly stock but it was usually brown and dull. Now, you can get lots of natural packaging, felt bows for trees and eco-friendly stock.”

In the back of the store is the “naughty corner” which still has plastic stock but when it’s gone, it’s gone.

One item Mrs Ingram can’t let go of, which resides on the tills, is a battery-powered motion-sensored robin, which she says brings her joy at the end of her 13-hour shifts.

“When I turn the lights off at night about half a dozen of them sing their natural bird song to me as I walk out the door,” she said. “They’re so sweet, fun and make everyone smile. That’s one piece of plastic I couldn’t not buy.”

She has sourced products globally, including from Ukraine, India and South Africa but has a desire to increase local UK suppliers. She said: “We have hand-painted horses from Ukraine, which I have supported for a couple of years, our crackers are from a company in South Africa and our specially commissioned hand-embroidered tree skirts and stockings are from India — they’re a real family heirloom.”

The shop floor has been refreshed with a new non-slip orange colour, infrared heaters have been installed and the “coffee corner” has been upgraded to provide more and comfier seating.

An outsourced coffee cabin has been introduced outside to enhance visitors’ experience.

Mrs Ingram added: “This is our first year in this format so we’re really hoping we can evolve with it and do more and better — we’re learning as we go along.”

The shop, which stocks its own honey and apple juice, will now sell venison from deer culled on the farm. Rebecca Ingram, 33, who works on the farm full-time, proposed the new initiative to control the population on the farm.

She said: “The deer population is growing exponentially and it’s a massive problem.

“The public doesn’t see venison very often in the shops but it’s such a healthy meat which is low in fat and sustainable.

“A guy prepares the oven-ready cuts for us. This includes mince, stewing steak, loin and sausages.”