Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Hohenstein.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I founded City Tree to provide customers with convenient, sustainable options during the Christmas season. In 2007, due to work, I missed the weekend opportunity to recycle my tree with the City of Chicago. I searched for other options and could not find any sustainable or convenient ways to dispose of my tree.
Out of this, I decided to start a full-service holiday company. City Tree exclusively offers locally harvested premium products. Where possible, we purchase commercial grade accessories made in the USA. Our services include in home tree & accessory delivery, setup, and tree removal/recycling. In addition, we offer full-service home & business decoration upon request.
When you order from us, you are making the right product decisions. We base our decisions on corporate social responsibility, not just profit. We measure success based on product quality and customer satisfaction. We donate a percent of sales to green charities & local schools.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My biggest obstacles include seasonal staffing, bad weather, and forecasting demand for inventory. I can control seasonal staff; but have little to no control over weather
Please tell us about City Tree Delivery.
City Tree is known for delivering the ultimate Christmas tree convenience experience. We offer a full-service Christmas tree experience online. We were the first company in Chicago (or anywhere) to offer online Christmas tree ordering for in home delivery/setup/removal. We have been delivering Chicago’s best award-winning Fraser Fir Christmas trees since 2009.
We’ve added 2 physical tree lot locations for customers that want the traditional experience of buying a tree in person. We’ve partnered with the popular Big Star restaurant to sell trees in Wicker Park since 2012 and added a new location in North Center town square in 2016.
Customers can order a tree with accessories online from the comfort of their home. All online orders include delivery inside your home and customers can customize their tree to include a stand, led lights, tree setup, and other decorations (wreaths, garland, etc.). Many customers chose for us to remove/recycle their tree at the end of the year. In addition, we offer full-service home & business decoration upon request.
City Tree exclusively offers locally harvested premium products. Where possible, we purchase commercial grade accessories made in the USA.
Many companies save money buying less expensive trees of various grades. We exclusively buy the highest USDA graded Fraser Firs available.
We base our decisions on corporate social responsibility, not just profit. We measure success based on product quality and customer satisfaction. We aren’t the cheapest provider, but we offer the best products at a fair price. Evidenced by our 5-star Yelp rating and countless testimonials, we work with our customers and ensure they are always satisfied.
https://www.citytreedelivery.com/pages/customer-testimonials
https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-tree-delivery-chicago-6
We donate a percent of sales to green charities, churches, & local schools.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Up until 2016, I’ve treated City Tree as a hobby while working a full-time job. If I had to start over, I would have quit my full-time job early to focus on growth. I would also add other year-round services to compliment non-Christmas offerings. I’ve also learned to simplify everything and the importance of partnering with the right people/teams/businesses to create win-win relationships.
Pricing:
- Online Fraser Fir tree orders including delivery start from $89.95
- Tree Lot prices start @ $12/foot & increase with tree size. Delivery is available
- $20 – Tree Setup
- Removal/Recycling options starting at $24.95 (purchase before Xmas)
Contact Info:
- Address: Seasonal Lot: 1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
- Website: www.CityTreeDelivery.com
- Phone: 312-476-9627
- Email: CustomerService@CityTreeDelivery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citytreedelivery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityTreeDelivery
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/City_Tree
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-tree-delivery-chicago-6
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Image Credit:
Angie Randall
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