View Full Version : The Christmas wholesale warehouse
iris lilies
11-7-25, 10:53pm
Yesterday I visited the local wholesalers on “Florist Row” in St. Louis to identify the things I’ll need to buy to get my house ready to be on our town’s Holiday House house December 6.
my decorating theme is “natural” so I’ll be using much natural garland and greenery. But There are some things I have to buy that will not be natural so I went shopping there.
It was depressing. I was skeeved out by the huge amount of plastic crap made in China that filled that warehouse. I suppose it’s no different than the retail stores like Michael’s and Hobby lobby, it’s just that it really struck me how big, bold, and unimaginative the products in this warehouse are. It caters to florists and it takes florists with their great imagination to turn the stuff into that which is even somewhat interesting.
Blech. There was the usual and expected yards and yards of fake plastic garland greenery, but I don’t want that stuff, I want something lighter and wispy, more natural looking. Their selection was extremely limited in that sort of thing. I need fake garlands to hang over my fireplace because the fire cooks natural greenery and it doesn’t last.
the warehouse looks like the photos below. Even though it is “wholesale “the stuff is no cheaper than Amazon So those of you who can’t gain entry into the inner workings of this kind of place, don’t feel left out, you can buy most everything on Amazon.
I use this store and other wholesalers on the block for fresh plant material and they is invaluable for that, but for this Christmas crap not so much. There was SOME value in being able to see the items in real life to assess their quality but otherwise, Amazon is just as good.
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rosarugosa
11-8-25, 7:44am
Yuck, looks like my idea of a hellscape. Was there Xmas music too?
I just finished watching NOS4a2 on Netflix. Pretty mindless entertainment, but that's OK sometimes. Basically an evil father Christmas kidnaps children and takes them to Christmas Land in another realm with all the decorations, music, and cookies where they can live forever. Unfortunately, the children turn into flesh eating monsters who are fed with innocent victims Father Christmas brings them. Sort of reminds me of that or the new Buc-ees down the interstate. I pretty much hav an issue with a lot of plasticy holiday decorations, but I'm probably just old school, as most people don't seem to mind.
happystuff
11-8-25, 9:00am
I think I would get an immediate attack of sensory overload in that warehouse! Where's the "green"???
iris lilies
11-8-25, 10:04am
Yuck, looks like my idea of a hellscape. Was there Xmas music too?
no, this is not a retail store so they don’t have customer friendly stuff like that. It has cement floors and pallets piled upon pallets
But their fresh flower warehouse is exciting! And cold.
iris lilies
11-8-25, 10:08am
I think I would get an immediate attack of sensory overload in that warehouse! Where's the "green"???
well. These photos are not the warehouse I went to because I couldn’t find photos of it online, so there’s more visible green in our warehouse, but it’s still all plastic and depressing.
I like that you concentrate on fresh things only. Maybe forego the plastic garland by the fire and just do more fresh things on the mantel? I remember as a kid being very impressed by the williamsburg wreathes with oranges on them!
iris lilies
11-8-25, 7:12pm
I like that you concentrate on fresh things only. Maybe forego the plastic garland by the fire and just do more fresh things on the mantel? I remember as a kid being very impressed by the williamsburg wreathes with oranges on them!
I am fashioning two topiaries of dried eucalyptus with touches of natural cedar, so there will be some natural decor on the fireplace.
This is a bit off this topic, but related. Today I went with a friend to a holiday handcraft market. I haven't been to one of those in many years. I sort of remember them as folksy grandma types selling quilted sh #@, er, stuff, or wooden toys.
Well, I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of giftables on display. I bought some gifts for my daughter and a beautiful and unusual bead and wire ornament. It made me feel good that I was supporting local home businesses and not Amazon. My friend overspent but I helped her justify it all! ha
iris lilies
11-8-25, 11:06pm
This is a bit off this topic, but related. Today I went with a friend to a holiday handcraft market. I haven't been to one of those in many years. I sort of remember them as folksy grandma types selling quilted sh #@, er, stuff, or wooden toys.
Well, I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of giftables on display. I bought some gifts for my daughter and a beautiful and unusual bead and wire ornament. It made me feel good that I was supporting local home businesses and not Amazon. My friend overspent but I helped her justify it all! ha
it’s a nice surprise when you can go to a craft market and find crafts that are interesting. There’s two still too many booths of granny crocheted stuff and quilted stuff and endless beaded pieces of jewelry.
I have taken to buying Christmas tree ornaments at the county fairs from felters and the like. I like to support them and the ornaments are not cheap, but one a summer I can afford. I bought a moose in Michigan and a duck here in Maine--not sure why I was attracted to the duck, honestly.
rosarugosa
11-9-25, 7:57am
no, this is not a retail store so they don’t have customer friendly stuff like that. It has cement floors and pallets piled upon pallets
But their fresh flower warehouse is exciting! And cold.
In my book, Xmas music is the antithesis of "customer friendly." :devil:
rosarugosa
11-9-25, 8:08am
I just finished watching NOS4a2 on Netflix. Pretty mindless entertainment, but that's OK sometimes. Basically an evil father Christmas kidnaps children and takes them to Christmas Land in another realm with all the decorations, music, and cookies where they can live forever. Unfortunately, the children turn into flesh eating monsters who are fed with innocent victims Father Christmas brings them. Sort of reminds me of that or the new Buc-ees down the interstate. I pretty much hav an issue with a lot of plasticy holiday decorations, but I'm probably just old school, as most people don't seem to mind.
That sounds like my idea of a good time! Is NOS4a2 a series and this a particular episode?
happystuff
11-9-25, 10:20am
One of the high schools in the area has a holiday craft event every year. It is ALWAYS cold out and there is always a line to get in - LOL. It's actually pretty nice. I love looking but very rarely buy anything. It's a great way to spend the day with friends. I'm looking forward to it this year.
catherine
11-9-25, 11:23am
I like to go to the smaller nurseries at Christmas. They are usually very tastefully done, sell quality goods, and you get great ideas from them. Yes, they are definitely more expensive than Christmas warehouses, but I used to buy one thing a year as a treat.
Actually, I just recently noticed that the natural wood votive candle holder I bought several years ago in my local nursery cost me $75!!!! Related to frugal-one's thread on "how we change," there is no way in hell I would spend $75 for a candle holder these days. At the same time, I love that thing. It made the cut during The Purge, and I use it every time people come to the house for ambience.
That sounds like my idea of a good time! Is NOS4a2 a series and this a particular episode?
It's a series of episodes. There are two seasons and I've only seen the first. You might recall that it's based on the Joe Hill novel of the same name. It's not too bad.
rosarugosa
11-9-25, 12:01pm
Thanks, Rogar. I think I'll add the novel to my list.
iris lilies
11-9-25, 12:18pm
on the topic of natural decor:
I use a lot of dried material in floral displays not only for holidays but for regular times. While I love to use fresh plant material, dried material can be very interesting. Here is one I put together recently, and it will serve as a holiday decoration, but it’s also going to be up all year without the green apples:
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rosarugosa
11-10-25, 7:28am
Nice, IL. I definitely prefer the natural decor. From my small suburban yard, I can often pull something nice together from our holly, boxwood, and Canadian hemlocks.
iris lilies
11-10-25, 7:39am
Nice, IL. I definitely prefer the natural decor. From my small suburban yard, I can often pull something nice together from our holly, boxwood, and Canadian hemlocks.
Yes! Those are great plants to work with.
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