This year, the Christmas tree market in St. Pete, Florida, is experiencing a shift in customer demographics, largely influenced by the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Gallagher’s Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Patch, a longstanding fixture along 4th Street in St. Pete for 37 years, has reopened despite sustaining damage from recent storms. Owner David Gallagher detailed the challenges faced, noting floodwaters from Hurricane Helene reached two feet, resulting in significant losses, particularly among pumpkins. “There’s no type of insurance for that type of stuff or the produce,” Gallagher remarked, highlighting the absence of coverage for such damage.
In addition to flooding, the business encountered wind damage brought on by Hurricane Milton. However, resilience remains a theme as Gallagher emphasized, “Everyone is just ready for a change because of all of the hurricanes and everything.” He confidently stated that trees sourced from various parts of the country, including Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, were fortunately unaffected by the storms. “These things actually hold up pretty well in the weather. In the mountains, we get 70-80 mile hour winds on a normal basis in the summertime,” Gallagher explained.
Despite the setbacks, the demographic of tree buyers is evolving. Traditional customers, displaced by the storms, have informed Gallagher they will not return this year, marking a shift in the usual clientele. “We’ve had some of our normal customers that we’ve usually had had to move in with family members and things like that,” Gallagher shared.
Interestingly, the patch is witnessing an influx of new customers, many of whom are transitioning from artificial to real Christmas trees. Gallagher noticed a trend where past owners of artificial trees, which suffered damage in flooded garages, are now opting for natural ones. The change has introduced a fresh demographic to the business space.
In a bid to provide some relief and spread holiday cheer, Gallagher’s Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Patch is offering free 3-foot-tall trees to families with children, aiming to support those displaced by the hurricanes.
The hurricanes have undeniably altered the landscape for St. Pete’s Christmas tree market, introducing new challenges while also bringing about unexpected shifts in customer demographics. Despite these changes, Gallagher’s Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Patch remains committed to serving the community and spreading festive cheer.
Source: Fox13news
