The holidays are upon us and so is the age-old question most people struggle with this time of year — real or fake? A Christmas tree that is!
Here at NST, we have a longstanding tradition of displaying a real Christmas tree each year. Our team gathers together to string the lights, decorate and take an annual office photo in front of the glowing tree. It’s a nice opportunity to unwind with each other and welcome the season.
But, we’re also a bit biased …
For the last six years, our agency has worked with the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, a group of more than 1,000 individual Christmas tree farms throughout Oregon and Washington. The association supplies more than 90 percent of the real trees purchased throughout the Southwest, and, as many of us in the public relations world know, you tend to become well versed in your client’s industry. We’re not the “official” real Christmas tree experts, but after spending a significant amount of time promoting real trees, we’ve learned a tip or two!
The NST Christmas tree is up, and our beautiful Douglas Fir is welcoming visitors in our lobby. We put together a short video recapping 2012 NST Christmas Tree Selection and decoration party, and also highlighted a few tips to help you select a fresh tree on the lot. Enjoy!
We also asked the team to share photos of their personal real Christmas trees (and, in turn, received photos including adorable children and pets!).
What are your personal or professional real Christmas tree traditions? We’d love to hear them!
NST Trees:
Jessica Vasquez, her boyfriend Cody and their cat Bib are all smiles in front of their Noble Fir. “Bib loves it when we bring the tree in each year because she hides underneath and tries to grab you when you walk past,” says Jessica.
The Trumpfheller family’s 9-foot Noble Fir follows tradition. Bill says that each ornament on the family tree has a story and “when we decorate we rehash the story of each to remind us of where we got it.”
Bryan Spevak’s daughter Emme stands next to the real tree the Spevak family decorated this year along Loop 360 in Austin, Texas. It’s an annual tradition in Austin to decorate the “Christmas” trees, which are visible to drivers along the busy highway.
For Teresa Siles, selecting her real Christmas tree is an annual tradition. With her birthday in early December, Teresa heads to the tree lot with her parents in what has become an annual Christmas/birthday tradition to select the perfect Noble Fir.
Rebecca Schmidt added some greenery to her home this year with a wreath made out of Nobile Fir branches. Santa Miggy approves!
Price Adams and her husband Brad selected a 6-foot Noble Fir tree this year, which is perfectly placed and waiting for admiration from Santa as he comes down the chimney.
Mark Olson’s dog Hank steals the show in front of the family Christmas tree. Bonus points for wrapped presents already under the tree!
Natalie Haack’s “Wee Tree” (as she says). It’s a tabletop Noble Fir and is the perfect size for her apartment.
