Over-order worries did not take root

TWO containers of Christmas trees going missing almost spelled disaster for Queux Patio Plants. The trees were lost somewhere between Denmark and Portsmouth and could not be traced. Nigel Clark's supplier offered to give him another two pallets, provided he also took an additional two pallets of mixed-height trees of 6-7ft and 5-6ft.

'Being told your container of Christmas trees was lost and then having to take the others was one of those nightmare decisions and I had to make it straight away because there were other people ready to take them,' he said.

'Christmas tree problems can come back to haunt you - people remember where they got their trees from and what they were like. It was one of the worst weeks of my life and at the time I thought I would have to dump the 5-6ft trees because we had over-ordered.'

But with the current shortage of trees in the island, Queux is one of the last places with any - or at least he had some yesterday.

All garden centres are understood to be out of stock after a major rush for the final trees last weekend. B&Q also ran out on Saturday and is not getting any more in.

Earlswood Nursery Garden Centre received an extra batch of 100 trees yesterday, having previously sold out, but 87 were already reserved before they arrived.

'Every so often, something like this happens,' said managing director Sean Tayler.

'I remember a few years ago seeing fathers walking around with their children trying to find a tree - it was a sad sight.

'It's a risky business for us, because you don't want to over-order and then find you can't sell them, but you want enough.

'It's not an exact science and it is difficult to know what will sell.'

He thought there were several factors which may have led to this year's Christmas tree crisis.

'I think there is one supplier who isn't doing them this year. I also think people are preferring the real trees and I have noticed a few people who are buying one for inside as well as one for outside. All those factors have meant that there has been a bit of a blip this year.'

He said that he could not get more from his supplier even if he wanted to. The most recent batch was ordered two weeks ago and even then, only certain sizes were available.

* Queux Patio Plants will be open next Monday and Tuesday from 6 to 8.30pm for people to see its Christmas lights.

Mince pies and drinks will be available and visitors will be asked to make a donation to the Women's Refuge.