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In Chicago's vibrant urban landscape, where the holiday spirit competes with the winter chill, Delivery of the City Tree brings warmth and comfort to the season. This innovative service simplifies the traditional Christmas tree shopping experience by delivering the holiday right to your doorstep. Founded on the principles of ENDURANCE and exceptional customer care, City Tree Delivery redefines vacations for the modern city dweller.
Founded by Chris Hohenstein in 2009, City Tree Delivery has grown from a simple idea to a beloved seasonal business that meets the unique needs of urban dwellers.
Chris' entrepreneurial journey initially stemmed from personal frustration and an environmental concern. Living in Chicago, Chris faced the annual dilemma of disposing of his Christmas tree in an environmentally friendly manner.
“I always had to throw away my Christmas tree in January because Chicago didn't have a great recycling program,” Chris recalls. This dissatisfaction spurred him into action, leading to conversations with local officials and a deeper involvement in environmental initiatives. Listen to the episode below to hear live from Chris Hohenstein.
The real turning point came suddenly. “I was working in public accounting and after I got laid off during the financial crisis in 2008, I attended an environmental breakfast where the real vs. fake Christmas tree debate came up,” Chris explained. This discussion ignited a spark. He saw an opportunity to not only recycle trees, but to rethink the entire process of how Christmas trees were sold and handled after the holidays.
The business began modestly, but was driven by a clear mission—to provide a full-service, environmentally friendly solution for urban dwellers. “I just wanted to solve the problem. It bothered me that I had to throw my tree away,” Chris said.
City Tree offers a unique rental service that addresses the challenges of urban living. Customers can choose to rent a Christmas tree for the season, which the company delivers directly to their door, sets it up, and collects it later for recycling. This service revolutionizes the traditional Christmas tree shopping experience by removing the burden of shipping, setup and disposal.
“Customers come online, choose the size of the tree, what accessories and options they want, and then at checkout, they'll choose a delivery date,” said Chris, detailing the ease with which customers can navigate their options. service. This hassle-free approach alleviates the typical stresses of transporting and placing a tree and responds to the spatial and logistical constraints of city living.
Service extends beyond delivery. “Once the tree is delivered, we educate the customer on how to care for it and ensure it stays fresh throughout the season,” added Chris. This educational component underscores City Tree's commitment to customer satisfaction and sustainability, enhancing overall service value.
City Tree's focus on customer experience is also at the heart.
“Our customers appreciate the simplicity of our online ordering system and the clarity of the delivery scheduling process,” said Chris. This simple approach is designed to fit the fast-paced lifestyle of City Tree's urban clientele, offering them a stress-free way to embrace the holiday spirit.
review Ojus P., a loyal customer, echoes this sentiment. “The communication and transparency of the delivery process have made us repeat customers,” he said.
Ojus' experience highlights the effectiveness of City Tree's efforts to provide clear and consistent updates from order to delivery. His comments confirm the importance of trust and credibility in customer service experience, especially during the holiday season.
At the forefront of service, sustainability is at the core of the business. “We make sure every part of the tree is used. From creating crowns and crowns from cuttings to composting the cuttings, we aim to have zero waste,” said Chris. This approach aligns with a broader environmental consciousness that resonates strongly with their client base in Chicago, a city that values sustainable practices.
Chris' efforts extend to customer education about the benefits of real trees over artificial ones, helping them make more environmentally friendly choices during the holidays. “Real trees can be composted, which significantly reduces their environmental impact compared to artificial trees,” he explained.
Chris sees his business as part of a larger effort to promote joy and convenience in urban living. “We're more than a Christmas tree delivery service – we're part of the holiday traditions that bring families and communities together,” said Chris. This sense of community involvement is central to City Tree's operations, driving them to engage more deeply with local initiatives and sustainability efforts.
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Looking ahead, Chris is optimistic about expanding City Tree's services. “We are exploring new ways to expand our offerings beyond the holiday season and considering how we can replicate our business model for other seasonal events,” he said. This vision for growth is based on the same principles of quality service and environmental stewardship that have guided City Tree since its inception.
“Every Christmas tree we deliver carries a little holiday spirit and a commitment to a greener tomorrow,” said Chris, capturing the essence of City Tree Delivery's mission and impact.
City Tree Delivery relies on these principles for success:
- Innovate for urban convenience. To address the unique challenges of urban customers, businesses can tailor their services or products for greater convenience. Offer planned delivery locations that can fit into the busy routines of city dwellers or develop compact designs to fit smaller living spaces, for example. Simple technology solutions like mobile apps for service bookings can also increase accessibility and efficiency, making life easier for urban consumers.
- Incorporate sustainability as a business strategy. Integrating sustainability into every aspect of operations demonstrates a strong commitment to environmentally conscious consumers and can set a business apart in a competitive market.
- Improve the customer experience with technology. Using technology to streamline ordering and delivery processes helps ensure a smooth customer journey from start to finish. Benefits include increased efficiency and customer satisfaction, as well as improved service quality and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure responsive and proactive customer communication. Neat and clear communication with customers before, during and after service delivery helps maintain high customer satisfaction. Adopting a proactive communication strategy can help businesses manage customer expectations effectively and improve overall service satisfaction.
Listen to the episode below to hear live from Chris and Ojus, and subscribe to it After the Review for more from new business owners and reviewers every Thursday.
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Editorial contributions by Charlotte Che and Kristi Lindahl