The Demand for Artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas Ornaments

Each year, more and more Americans are purchasing beautiful artificial Christmas trees instead of natural pine trees to decorate their homes with. The worldwide trend of going artificial has a great many advantages. Not only are artificial trees very easy to set up, but they also require no watering and provide uniformity in both shape and height. While some artificial Christmas trees have been designed to look just like the real thing, others celebrate their artificial nature, coming in bright and modern hues such as hot pink and sophisticated metallics such as champagne.

This incredible retail industry is supported by the 117 million Americans who set out as soon as Thanksgiving is over to start setting up their Christmas decorations. Among the most commonly purchased items are Christmas ornaments, artificial trees and Christmas lights.

Frosted Hampton Fir

Artificial Christmas Trees

The increased demand for artificial Christmas trees has lead to a vast number of them being imported from top exporters such as China. According to the United States Census Bureau, between the months of January and September of 2011, 79.7 million dollars worth of artificial Christmas trees were sent to the United States. These trees ranged in heights, sizes, and colors to suit virtually all tastes. That number rose in 2012, when in the same nine-month time period the US imported 139.9 million worth of artificial Christmas trees from China alone.

Christmas Finial Ornaments

Christmas Ornaments

One thing that artificial and real trees have in common is the need for them to be adorned by beautiful Christmas ornaments. China manufactured 983 million dollars worth of Christmas ornaments bound for the US by September of 2011. That number rose to an astonishing 1.03 billion dollars worth of ornaments in 2012.

C6 Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights

Those ornaments and trees would not look nearly as beautiful without the illumination of hundreds of glowing Christmas lights. This versatile holiday decoration decorates the inside and outside of hundreds of millions of homes and business throughout the United States. In 2011, 351.3 million dollars worth of Christmas lights were imported into the United States. That number increased to 378.3 million dollars in lights the following year.

So why are these numbers on the rise? It is very likely that home decorating magazines, design shows on TV, an increased number of crafting blogs, and websites such as Pinterest are partly responsible for the increase in Christmas retail. Not only do these design sources provide an abundance of inspiration, but they also offer detailed instructions for decorating techniques.

Switching to artificial wreaths, garlands, and trees allows homeowners and businesses alike to slowly build up their collection of holiday decorations, adding to their investment year after year. Once you have purchased versatile staple products, you have the freedom to completely change up the look and color scheme of your holiday decor with the simple change out of lights and ornaments. Each year, manufacturers improve the design of these products and provide them in a greater range of sizes, colors, and shapes. What will be the holiday decorating trends for 2014?