GRANBY — Two young entrepreneurs are trying to accomplish what very few before them have achieved. Nicolas Parro, 19, and Quinn Shields, 21, are going out on a limb, opening a Christmas tree business and hoping their investment will pay off.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking because I’ve never done anything remotely like this. But I’m excited. I think it’ll do great,” Shields said.
This entrepreneurial ensemble has no high-level business training. Parro graduated from Pathfinder Regional Technical Vocational High School in 2022 and worked as a machinist in South Hadley. Shields was homeschooled and was a machinist alongside Parro.
They’ve both left the machine shop and are working full-time at Chateau Harmony, a small shopping center anchored by a historic red barn at 185 West State St. in Granby. Shields is a handyman and landscaper; Parro manages the property. His parents own the business.
Big, red and busy
Chateau Harmony, known locally as the big red barn, is busy with holiday shoppers. The 50-car parking lot is packed all day during the holidays. Seizing on the traffic and opportunity, Parro and Shields are launching their first business — Chateau Harmony Christmas Trees. They’re attempting to sell 800 fresh-cut balsam fir trees in the coming weeks.
“We love Christmas and spreading joy. Our families have always had a great time going out and picking Christmas trees, bringing them back and decorating them. We really want to give that experience to other families,” said Parro.
While the partners have not gone to business school, they have had homespun training. “My dad started multiple businesses,” Parro said, “and that has given me confidence. He didn’t come from a wealthy family. He’s a self-made man. Growing up watching my dad sell things and support our family was beyond inspirational.”
Shields has worked on the family farm since he was a child. He’s learned and been inspired by his parents’ strong work ethic.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to have my own business. I’ve been interested in selling things with my name on it,” Shields said.
Parro and Shields are hoping to get their cut of a massive industry. Up to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The association also reports nearly 16% of all trees sold were purchased at retail lots, like the one the young entrepreneurs are running.
While many of their peers have gone off to college or entered the workforce, very few start their own businesses. According to the United States Census Bureau, 94% of business owners are over the age of 34. A fraction of the remaining 6% is under the age of 21.
Nicholas Parro (right), and his partner Quinn Shields are opening a Christmas Tree stand at Chateau Harmony in Granby. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/13/2023The Republican
Path less taken
Even though owning a business is an unlikely career path for the young men, they are pouring everything into their enterprise: purchasing equipment to display and wrap the trees, building a shed to store everything, producing and handing out flyers, advertising on Facebook and creating videos to market the business.
There will also be Christmas music, hot cocoa, a candy cane tree for children and Christmas lights for everyone.
“We’re shooting for the Hallmark Christmas look — very festive and Christmassy. I think that’ll draw a lot of attention,” said Parro.
The Christmas tree team also has an abundance of grit and determination. They don’t have formal hours of operation. They’ll just be selling Christmas trees all the time, beginning the day after Thanksgiving.
“Quinn and I are ambitious people. We’ll be here seven days a week from 6 a.m. to probably eight o’clock at night. It’s pretty open-ended,” said Parro.
Very often business owners have to project how much they expect to sell. Parro and Shields couldn’t do that because they had to purchase their product by the truckload, so they ordered one rig, fully packed with fresh-cut trees from New Hampshire. Their goal is not to sell out, but to wind up with a few extra firs.
“My dad tells me he never likes to sell out because if you sold out, you probably could have sold more. If we end the year and have ten trees left over, I feel that’s a successful year,” said Parro.
Chateau Harmony’s Christmas trees will range in size from 28 inches to nine feet tall. Depending on the size and quality of the offerings, each will sell for between $40 and $130.
Money trees
The budding entrepreneurs don’t know how much profit they’ll have, but they do want to donate much of it to the Granby police and fire departments, local emergency medical technicians along with a school and several churches in their community.
“One of our main goals is to help people live prosperous lives, and that’s why we’re making these donations, because we love helping people. I’ve been raised to give as much as I get,” said Parro.
The partners, pals since they were children, said selling trees is just the beginning. They’re unwrapping what they hope to be a lifetime of doing business together.
