CHRISTMAS trees may be a seasonal product but that didn’t deter Rachael McDonald, co-founder of Bloombar Flowers, from venturing into the niche market of sourcing and selling locally grown Christmas trees. Despite having no background in gardening or landscaping — or even owning a farm herself — McDonald, a passionate enthusiast of annual Christmas trees, said her decision to start the business stemmed from a desire to support Brand Jamaica.

“I would always buy imported Christmas trees, and one year I just decided that, that was it — there were going to be no more imported Christmas trees and that we were going to be building and promoting Brand Jamaica in as much as we could,” McDonald shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

McDonald, who also recognised the trend of friends and acquaintances opting for real Christmas trees to deck their homes for the holiday season, saw an opportunity to tap into this market.

“A lot of people in my social circle buy real Christmas trees, and they go all out to pretty up their houses for Christmas,” she explained to the Sunday Finance. “I’ve been able to capitalise on that interest and offer a service and product that can gain traction in Jamaica.”

Over the last decade Bloombar Flowers has grown from a small operation to an islandwide business, supplying hundreds of Christmas trees and poinsettias sourced from farmers in St Andrew, including the Blue Mountains. While it has removed thousands of trees for sale, it emphasises sustainability by planting hundreds of seedlings annually to replenish what is harvested. Despite what many may think about the process of growing, cutting, stacking, and transporting trees, McDonald views the process as a rewarding journey rather than a challenge, thanks to a strong partnership with long-time farmer “Scotty”. The business also experienced significant growth, particularly since the pandemic.

“Interests became greater. And we’ve just managed to ride on that interest and just really grow things. We’ve watched growth happen in very organic and wholesome ways,” she shared.

In recent years Bloombar Flowers has expanded its reach, delivering Christmas trees islandwide, a service that gained traction after strategic advertising. Despite severe weather conditions, including hurricanes over the years and recently this year, the business has remained resilient, with minimal impact. McDonald did refrain from discussing capital investments but instead credited the business’ growth to flipping limited resources and staying within financial comfort zones. Acknowledging its seasonal focus, Bloombar Flowers diversifies year round by selling freshly cut flowers, including various lilies grown in the hills, among other ventures.

“We use the same Christmas tree branches and a variety of locally grown herbs to create what we call smudge sticks,” she added, highlighting how the business diversifies during the off-season for Christmas trees.

Smudging is an ancient spiritual practice that originated from indigenous cultures in the Americas. It involves burning sacred plants to purify, protect, and bring balance to people, spaces, and objects. While smudging itself is not new, the use of smudge sticks is a relatively recent introduction for the business, spanning just over the last two years. For now, it focuses on capitalising on the local market demand for Christmas trees, as it’s not yet eyeing exports despite receiving requests from overseas customers. While Bloombar Flowers is open to exploring export opportunities, it plans to do so only when the timing is right. The primary concern is ensuring that the Christmas trees can adapt to the varied weather conditions in foreign markets. As a result, the company is adopting a cautious approach, focusing on careful planning and preparation before venturing into global expansion.

“We just want to capitalise and get these wonderfully grown, Jamaican-grown Christmas trees into as many spaces as possible. I think I’ve always believed in Christmas and the magic of Christmas, and having a Christmas tree in your space just puts you in a better mood. It alters your energy, it alters your mood, and if we can have more people feeling good, you know, we can have more people making a difference,” McDonald said.