It's looking a lot like Christmas
Christmas decorations are more than just a treasured holiday tradition. They can be a foot-traffic generating revenue multiplier for many stores.
HBSDealer's recent solicitation for photos of Christmas decorations produced some fine examples of holiday style.
Dyson Building Center
Dyson Building Center of Great Mills, Md., decorates for the holidays. Melanie Dyson writes: "We love to decorate and it helps put everyone in the store in the holiday spirit!:
She explains the "Christmas skeleton" this way: "He was making s'mores during Halloween, and we just weren't ready to pack him up yet."
Petersburg Hardware
There's a little bit of magic in the outdoor "Santa and his Reindeer" display at the Petersburg, Ind. store.
Co-owner Robin Smith explains:
"Originally, the set flew across Main Street in Petersburg, Ind., during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Due to its age, the set needed some TLC to restore it to its original glory. Owner Sherry Bishop, Operations Manager Eric Smith (Sherry's son in law), and Store Manager Ken Hurst worked to restore broken areas, update the lights to LED, and reinforce the carabiners. Our goal was to make it 'fly' as it did before. Santa and his reindeer are now flying between an alcove of Petersburg Hardware. Customers are coming in daily and telling stories of their memories of Santa and others from the time period. It has lighted up our community with Christmas joy!"
She added: "With 2020 being so hard, Petersburg Hardware set out to bring one of our communities cherished memories back to life."
Sullivan Hardware & Garden
On the Northside of Indianapolis, Sullivan Hardware & Garden has nurtured a holiday tradition -- the Sullivan Express.
Here's how the Sullivan Santa Express is described on the web site: "Upon arrival at the North Pole, the kids can play in Santa’s workshop as your family takes turns visiting with Kris Kringle himself. Afterward, you will catch the next train back to Central Station."
It's a lucrative tradition: $50 per family on weekdays, and $60 on weekends.
Kuempel Hardware
Kuempel Hardware in historic downtown Guttenberg, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River celebrates Christmas with steadily expanding sophistication over the years. This year's display, which stretches across the entire front of its building, features life-sized silhouettes of skaters and a horse-drawn carriage. (Thanks to Mike Stahle of Do it Best for the submission.)
Wood Shed
The Wood Shed of Carrlolton, Mo., gets into the holiday spirit with elaborate window painting, including an interactive, customer-friendly photo-op front door.
# # #
And finally, here's the Bon Tool Co. Lobby Tree in Gibsonia, Pa., being decorated by little Colton Bongiovanni. (His dad is the president of the company.)
