Now is that magical time of the year when the Home Division of Ace Hardware Home Center in South Miami transitions from one holiday to the next. Halloween witches and skeletons are beginning to drift from center stage. Thanksgiving turkeys and ambercolored autumn accessories co-exist with the store’s ever spectacular Christmas wonderland; a joyous sight that is a riot of color and opulence. As in the past, this year’s holiday season will officially kick-off with a merry celebration at Ace Hardware on Thursday, November 1st, from 5:30P to 8:30P.
The store is bustling with activity and a veritable shower of glitter as Betty Phillips veteran Buyer for the Home Division removes sparkling glass decorations from boxes and gives helpful advice to the decorating team. Using her skills and experience from the retail trade to select products, she begins buying in January for items that make their appearance in the shop from October to December.
“This is the little store with big ideas,” says Betty, speaking to the store’s long history of successfully blending their selections of every day necessities and top-quality home decorating accessories.
During the holiday season, the store features eight to eleven trees that are decorated with themes to delight children and adults for just about every room in the house. Customers can purchase one of these thematic trees complete with everything or they can purchase individual items. Professional designer Mike Monroe from Monroe Design brings his vast experience with hotels and private homes to the fore, leading the store’s design team in the creation of specialty trees and making himself available to consult with customers.
Customers and staff work together to create highly personalized trees, just the right lighting, and lush garlands and wreaths in an array of styles to match the customers’ home décor, inside and out.
Trees of every size and variety are available, from modern metallic and crystal, to more traditional fir-like trees. There is even an upside-down tree. This year it is replete with whimsical sea creatures and fish appropriate for celebrating the holidays in coastal South Florida. And lest you think hanging trees bottom up is something new, the practice purportedly was flourishing in Central European homes by the twelfth century when the fir tree was revered as a symbol of Christianity.
Among the traditional holiday favorites offered at Ace Hardware are collectible items such as Department 56 Villages, Byers’ Choice Ltd. Carolers and Mark Roberts Fairies. The store always carries what is new in these popular lines. The charming lighted villages, homey carolers and spritely fairies keep customers coming back every season.
“We look forward to arranging the Mark Roberts Fairies flying through the air. We like to make our customers happy,” said Betty Phillips.
The Ace Hardware Home Center located at 7325 Red Road in South Miami is one of four stores owned by Dan Hitchcock. The South Miami location has been in the Hitchcock family since 1959.
Call 305-667-1195 to schedule an appointment with a holiday sales specialist or designer.
