It was just before noon on Oct. 5 when Richard Morrison was hanging a glass ornament that resembled a head of garlic on a small metal tree inside the John Derian store in Manhattan. They had been setting up holiday décor since Sept. 30, which was earlier than ever for Mr. Derian, who had not been in the Christmas season at his store this early since he started the business in 1995.
Mr. Morrison was part of a team of five employees unpacking and arranging ornaments at the shop. As they worked, they were hanging the newly arrived decorations and dealing with the glitter. On this particular day, a store manager named Claire Cook joined in the decorating, also sharing in the glitter-related mishaps.
John Derian sought to usher in the holiday spirit by turning one of his furniture showrooms into a festive wonderland. The space was filled with an array of Christmas decorations, including wreaths, ornaments, and vintage garlands. At that time, the holiday shop was still in disarray, not officially open to the public yet.
Inside, a dozen trees bore hundreds of ornaments, along with Tony, a giant snowman. Mr. Derian pointed out that his Christmas excavations are unique, and therefore not something typically sought as a Christmas gift, hence his decision to convert one of his furniture showrooms into a holiday shop.
Mr. Derian went as far as to inform the customers that while the holiday store wasn’t actually open, they could look around, but to be careful. Amidst the glitter-related chaos, he openly identified the glitter as a recurring hazard at the store.
The article goes on to describe the unique array of decorations, craftsmanship, and stories surrounding each ornament sold in Mr. Derian’s store, highlighting Derian’s distinct taste for ornament diversity. This is despite the fact that his stores estimate about a quarter of their annual sales are holiday related.
In addition to merchandise, Mr. Derian’s store is a platform for his creative endeavors. His idea for a festive wonderland became a unique walking tour of the beautiful store and a smokiness senses experience for first visitors.