Tree sales soar ahead of coronavirus Christmas in Chicago

Tree sales were up nearly 30% nationwide through the first week of December, with lots of distributors selling out earlier than they have in the past.

By Madeline Kenney

A customer browses Christmas trees at Poor Bob’s Tree Land Saturday in Evanston.

Buying a real Christmas tree is part of the Barnett family’s holiday tradition. Each year, Troy Barnett tries to find the largest evergreen he can from a lot near his Lincoln Park home, he said.

But his plan hit a snag earlier this month when the lot shut down for the season after it sold its entire inventory just weeks after opening.

“I was totally surprised,” Barnett said. “It was our tradition just to walk over, but they sold out of their trees two weeks prior to us traditionally getting it.”

Shannon Carey ran into a similar issue. As Carey and his girlfriend looked around online to find a real tree, they noticed many lots were already empty.

“I was surprised at how much the demand had surged.” Carey said. “I had no idea.”

Merchants say Chicagoans are flocking to Christmas tree lots at unprecedented rates this year amid a holiday season like no other. Unable to travel or see extended family as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, many are turning to real Christmas trees to make their holiday season bright, resulting in many places selling out earlier than they have in the past.

It’s reflective of a national trend as Christmas tree sales were up nearly 30% nationwide through the first week of December, according to a CNBC report.

Rob Svendsen, owner of Svendsen’s Christmas Trees, carries a tree for a customer in Lincoln Park Saturday afternoon.

Ivy Speck, who’s been selling North Carolina Frasier Firs in Lake View for 32 years, said she’s never experienced a soar in demand quite like this year.

“We didn’t really see it coming,” said Speck, who sold her last tree the afternoon of Dec. 5. “We had no idea. And because our trees are so premium and come from North Carolina, we had no way of getting any more.”

Rob Svendsen is also reaping the benefits in the increased interest in purchasing real Christmas trees this season.

“It’s been my best year,” said Svendsen, who calls himself “the Lorax of Christmas trees.”

Svendsen started with more than 700 trees across three locations. With Christmas still two weeks away, he’s down to fewer than 100 at his Lincoln Park location at 2530 N. Clark St.

“I’ll probably sell out in the next week or so,” he said.

Svendsen sold three trees, including a prized 12-foot fir, in a span of just 30 minutes Saturday afternoon. The mammoth tree went to Barnett and his 14-year-old son William, who carted it home on the roof of their Jeep.

Troy Barnett and his son William pose for a picture after buying a tree at Svendsen’s Christmas Trees in Lincoln Park.

Meanwhile, Carey purchased a 5-foot tree from Svendsen, which he plans to decorate with his girlfriend this weekend. He said it’s nice to have a bit of normalcy after such a challenging year.

“There are some things that happen every year and I feel like that kind of stability, it just kind of grounds you, to say, ‘Yes, I have these constants in my life.’ And I think that does a lot,” he said. “It’s nice to feel that from time to time.”

Both Svendsen and Speck said they’ve had a lot of first-time buyers this year. Speck speculated that’s in part due to the fact many people are staying home this year after nixing holiday travel plans. Svendsen thinks people are turning to real trees for the scent and aura they bring to a room.

“I think people really want to have something different in their home this year for holidays,” he said. “They just want to add another layer or another aspect of coziness and comfort. So it’s definitely a different feel this year and I hope it translates to next year as well.”