Kimberly Placentino is a second-generation seller of Christmas trees in Lake Forest. Every year, she “takes a vacation from my real job” as director of campus operations at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and sets up a Christmas tree lot in front of her home at 997 N. McKinley Road. The business has been operating more than 70 years.
Q. Who started the business?
A. My mother, Sena Cascarano, always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She said, ‘I’m going to sell some Christmas trees.’ She borrowed a pick-up truck and went to Chicago and got some trees. I think it was maybe a dozen trees. At that time, we were the only people selling trees around here. She sold them all. That first year, she went back to Chicago and picked up some more.
Q. How long did she sell trees?
A. She started when she was 19 and was at the lot at the age of 86. She passed away at age 86, four years ago. Even when she was sick, she would look out the window and make sure I was doing things right.
Q. You’re a second-generation seller. Do you ever see second-generation buyers?
A. We’ve probably seen three generations over the years who have come back.
Q. You sell trees from North Carolina, Michigan and Nova Scotia. Do you travel to those places to pick up the trees?
A. Two of my shipments arrive in a great big semi-truck. I have good friends who help me unload the trees. We have a gas-powered shaker. It shakes out all the debris. My mother used to do it by hand. We would pound them and pound them on the ground.
Q. What the latest anyone has ever bought a tree?
A. I remember one year, it was Christmas Day and I was putting dinner on the table and I had someone knocking on my door.
Q. What are the challenges of this business?
A. Weather. I remember years ago with my mom, before we had heat in the garage, the trees outside would be cold and stiff. We’d have to take the trees into the basement so people could see what they look like.
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