Christmas Trim-A-Tree Wonderland again in full splendor
SALEM — The Rice family held its first Homestead Pools Christmas Trim-A-Tree Wonderland in 1975, decorating the front, ground-floor showroom with trees, wreaths and ornaments.
“We expanded to the back room in 1995,” said Gary Rice, a member of the family-owned business at 1826 Depot Road, said.
So today, the Homestead Pools Trim-A-Tree Wonderland takes up three showrooms selling artificial Christmas trees ranging in size from18 inches to 12-feet tall. The larger trees are kept in a third, rear showroom.
“It’s the winter home of Homestead Pools,” he said.
Customers come from Canton, Warren, Youngstown and the surrounding area to see the large selection of wreaths, from 20- to-60 inches, popular LED trees, ornaments and trinkets.
The employees also include David and Sally Rice and sales associate Chris Yoder. The LED trees cost a little more years ago when they first came out but are about the same cost today as the others. The big seller now are the “quick set” trees.
“People are looking for them now, they’re so much easier,” Rice said, adding that some of the fast-selling, color-changing LED trees come with a remote control.
“We’ve sold some trees out,” he said. “We had over 150 trees on display and we’re at 120 now.
Christmas Trim-A-Tree sells a number of brand names. Rice said the most popular tree size is 7 1/2 feet. “But people are trending toward down sizing, or smaller, easier to carry around trees,” he said.
Rice explained they have an assortment of 9-foot trees for customers with homes that have taller ceilings.
“They pretty much know what they want,” said David Rice speaking of customers. “That’s why we have such a large choice. We have more variety than anywhere around. We began selling trees in 1975 and we’ve never seen anyone with a display larger than ours,” he said.
Taking advantage of three showrooms, there is 4,000 square feet of Christmas trees on display.
Wreaths are also big sellers. “We do our share indoors and out,” Gary Riche said. “We have 20-inch, 24-inch, 30-inch, 36-inch, 42-inch and up to 60-inches.”
Homestead Pools Christmas Trim-A-Tree Wonderland is open every day, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The Christmas Trim-A-Tree Wonderland will be open a half day Christmas eve and closed Christmas Day.
Homestead Pools is also home to Budget Rental and Supply.
For more information, call 800-362-0460 or 330-337-9937.