How do I train a buyer to run my tree lot’s busy December weekends?

The weekends are the whole business, and a buyer who has never seen one will be surprised. If your timing allows, invite them to work the lot beside you. If not, bring them for a weekend in a role, such as the till, so they feel the pace.

Write down the weekend plan: who works which shift, where each task happens, how trees are moved from the back to the front, and how customers line up. Include the practical details such as lighting, heat for staff, signage and where cars go. Show how you handle a customer who wants a tree trimmed, netted and carried. Teach the cash side too. Explain how you open and close the till, count money and split duties between staff. Introduce the helpers who return every year and tell the buyer what each is best at. Then prepare for trouble: a late truck, bad weather, a staff shortage, a dispute. Explain what you have done before. Agree on a way for the buyer to reach you during the first season, so they are not alone when the lot is full. A simple map of the lot, with labelled zones for storage, display, netting and payment, helps a new owner direct helpers quickly when everyone is asking questions at once.

Key takeaways

• Let the buyer work at least one busy weekend with you.
• Put the weekend plan, shifts and cash routine in writing.
• Stay reachable during the buyer’s first December.