- November 27, 2024
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Julie Raulerson has been selling Christmas trees for 21 years. Her Palm Coast lot, Julie’s Tree Town, is open until Dec. 24.
Julie Raulerson opened the gates to her Christmas tree lot, Julie’s Tree Town, for the 14th consecutive year Nov. 23, in Palm Coast.
Although she is a St. Augustine resident, Raulerson made Palm Coast the headquarters for her business nearly a decade-and-a-half ago, after running a friend’s lot in St. Augustine for seven years prior.
The first week of sales are usually slow, she says, and so she uses that time to gauge how many and what size trees people are buying. Then she restocks accordingly, bringing in fresh inventory from a grower once or twice per week.
The most popular tree size, she says, are the seven-footers.
Although Raulerson has found a niche market in Palm Coast, not even Christmas trees are immune from financial cutbacks.
“We’ve taken a beating just like everybody else,” she says. “(Sales) have gone down the last couple years, with the economy the way it is.”
Most families will still buy a tree when money is tight, she added, but they might compromise, buy from a cheaper chain store instead of a fresh retailer.
Rainy or unseasonably cold weather might also deter people from visiting her tent.
The rest of the year, Raulerson keeps busy in a handful of other employment capacities. She works for a brokerage firm, helps operate a transportation company and co-owns with her husband a construction and a window/door company.
Julie’s Tree Town is located at 1210 Palm Coast Parkway. For more, call 904-669-7872.
