Navigator News (tm) November 2008

Holiday Stores Make Merry
with Unique Products, Ambiance

By Donna Marie Pocius
Special to DoorCountyNavigator.com

Give your home a look for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays by shopping at unique seasonal shops on the Door Peninsula.

Popular stores-including Tannenbaum Holiday Shop, Sister Bay, and All I Want for Christmas and Then Some, Egg Harbor-specialize in home accents and gift merchandise for all holidays. They also have custom-made floral and seasonal arrangements, eye-catching store displays and a festive ambiance.

In fact, the displays are so nice that customers often just ask the sales associate to wrap them up.

"Someone just bought this, and we are taking it down," says Kathy Tunney, co-owner of All I Want For Christmas, as she pointed to an intriguing arrangement of berries and twigs wrapped around a chandelier hanging in the store.

"We try to be an idea store. We try to inspire. People like to be inspired and say, 'I can do that,'" Tunney says.

Sheri Conley (Tunney's mom) makes wreaths, swags, garland and more one-of-a-kind arrangements. Included are her harvest wreaths, perfect to hang over the fireplace mantel on Thanksgiving Day.

"Fall d�cor is very popular, because people don't have a lot of things for fall," Tunney says.

The store has decorative pumpkins, made from resin in the U.S. They come plain or with a greeting such as "Give Thanks" and can be put outside on a covered porch or inside the house. The store carries figures of pilgrims, Native Americans and turkeys. Also available are seasonal fragrances such as cinnamon cider and pumpkin spice candles.

Nearby are Christmas trees adorned with ornaments, garland and more. And it's OK to touch the displays. Everything is for sale.

"We let our customers shop right off the trees," Tunney explains. "We categorize them by what we call stories. This helps us plan and helps our customers see them by category."

At Tannenbaum, www.tannenbaumhoidayshop.com, people browse rooms filled with decorated artificial trees and holiday collectibles. National brands showcased here include Department 56, Christopher Radko, Byers' Choice and Fontanini.

Customers may also discover decorative art by Door County and Wisconsin artists.

One of the highlights this year is an upside-down, seven and one-half foot tall Christmas tree. It's also pre-lit, providing a unique backdrop for an ornament collection.

The tree actually sits in a base on the floor, so there is no need to secure it to a wall or ceiling. The upside-down tree saves space in the home, and there's more room for presents, too, according to Sue Ann and Ronald Flittner, owners of Tannenbaum.