Ollie's Dad used to be the Landlord at The Tweseldown pub back in the day. Ollie was just a lad, but that was how the connection started.
It's hard to believe that 2024 is the 14th consecutive year of Ollie and his team selling Christmas Trees (and wreaths) from the car park of the pub.
When you go down there, the set-up is super impressive. LED spotlights illuminate the whole site - much needed with so few daylight hours. But what strikes you upon arrival is that you don't feel you are in a carpark, but in the corner of a festive alpine forest.
The set-up tells a story of a team that know what they are doing. It may seem odd to say, but they are not selling trees (they are, but bear with me). What they are selling is a buying experience. The experience that comes alive through the mouth of a young child that says: "Mummy, Daddy please can we get our tree from the same place as last year?"
How do they do this? They make the visit to see them enjoyable and memorable for the children and easy for the parents.
A photo oppoprtunity with the 'face-in-a-picture' ferstive illustration, playing with the netting and even being passed through the netter for the older ones, plus sweets and the choice of which marketing bin to put the off-cuts into (very Waitrose-esque!)
14 years of experience means Olly has got the supply side down to a fine art. The quality of the trees is commented on by hunderds of happy customers each year. The choice and variety of sizes means there is no reason for anyone to leave without the christmas tree they want.
Since Covid, people's expectations of payment have changed and Olly has changed with them. Over 9 in 10 transactions are now by card, and customers appreciate the convenience. They also like the advice on how to care for a tree, so that it looks its best ahead of Christmas and also of course, on the big day.
A good question and not one that Ollie dodges. The price list is freely available on the Ollies Christmas Trees Fleet Facebook Page.
Anyone who takes the time to cmpare prices with nearby garden centres or large DIY outlets will find further evidence to prove that the best show in town for Christmas Trees is at The Tweseldon Pub in Fleet.
Open from 7am - 7pm 7 days a week right up until Christmas.
