Guelph is the ideal destination for one Quebec man who has been selling Christmas trees in the area for the past 10 years.
Every year, Lorne Spaulding travels around 10 hours from the eastern township region of Sherbrooke to Guelph to sell Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir trees outside of Canadian Tire on Woodlawn Road. Spaulding sells trees from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. for four weeks.
Since setting up shop on Friday, Nov 26., Spaulding has sold 375 trees. Besides Christmas trees, Spaulding also sells wreaths, garland, maple syrup and pine tree branches people can use to make pots.
"It's gotten to be routine," said Spaulding, "Every year I say it's my last one, because I'm 72 years old, and it's a long month when you're 72 years old.
"I'm hoping to be sold out by next week."
Spaulding said the reason he chose Guelph is because he knew the area as his daughter studied at the University of Guelph. He also has a sister living in Cambridge with her family.
Needing additional income after he retired, Spaulding said he started selling Christmas trees, first at the Canadian Tire in Cambridge, and then to the store location here in Guelph.
"I have to do something and I like people, you meet a lot of great people," he said about his interest in this work. "I get a lot of repeat business. They come back to buy a tree and sometimes it ends up being a half an hour visit."
To prepare for the holidays, Spaulding explains he has to start getting organized to sell trees in October. He buys and transports his trees from Downey Tree Farm & Nursery.
"I just buy them from my neighbours, bring them in, and resell them," he said. "You've got to be setup and ready to go by Black Friday."
Normally getting between 600 to 650 Christmas trees, this year his supply has gone down due to the shortage of trees. Spaulding adds he also isn't getting as much foot traffic due to the fire that recently broke out at that Canadian Tire, resulting in the store being temporarily closed.
"I was here when it happened, the day I came in," he said, recalling the fire. "I was outside and I couldn't believe it when I heard it."
But, despite a shortage of Christmas trees and Canadian Tire not open, Spaulding said he should be okay thanks to his regular customers.
"They're alright due to my regulars, but a little slow," he said about sales. "If I didn't have my regular customers I'd be in big trouble, this year especially."
While Spaulding admits the work is short-term and not super profitable, Spaulding said he has met a lot of 'great bunch of people' here in Guelph.
"I had one family who wrote a book about it," said Spaulding about one resident who came to buy a tree from him. "She brought it to me one time and showed me it.
"Her husband dropped by and said they were coming, brought me some little Christmas treat, usually cookies."
If he stayed in Quebec, Spaulding said he would have to sell his Christmas trees in the Montreal area, which is a very populated area.
"There's so many people from Quebec who have gone into that area, you don't want to be on top of one another," he said about trying to sell Christmas trees alongside other competing vendors. "So go somewhere where you can spread out, and of course, I know this area.
"You gotta come to a thickly-populated area, and I didn't want to be in Toronto, and I had family in the area, so it all went together."
Along with his sister living in Cambridge, Spaulding also has a son who lives in Elora, making arranging accommodations easier for him. Plus, he adds that when he stays over, he can also spend time with his eight-month-old granddaughter.
"Sometimes I open a bit late from playing with her," said Spaulding.
With 10 years of experience selling trees, Spaulding said he would be interested in returning to Guelph next year, if he can convince his daughters.
"My daughters always tell me it's my last one, but I always manage to talk them into another one."
