Postal Workers Find a New Way to Deliver For the Holidays

Steve Collins and Vinny Fratalia are two postal workers with an independent streak. The men are currently in second year as Christmas tree retailers, after starting their own tree business without any former knowledge of evergreens.  

Between the two, they have over 50 years of United States Postal Service experience under their belts and are well known in East Arlington neighborhood they serve. It was one of these relationships that led them to their side project which is now displayed in the Walgreens parking lot on Mass Ave.

"We were asked by Walgreens to sell in the lot as it is also beneficial to them," said Fratalia.

The idea was that if customers bought trees in the parking lot, that they would go to Walgreens for the dressings, stands and other necessities.

When the drug store approached Collins just before Thanksgiving a year ago, he immediately knew that Fratalia would be his business partner. The two have known each other for 30 years and often have sought other small business ventures together. But the tree business was more than a financial opportunity for Collins: opening Bushy Trees fulfilled one of his boyhood dreams. 

"My uncle worked at Mahoney's for years," said Collins of the Winchester tree farm. "I always wanted to do it. It looked like fun."

Under the gun, the two dedicated their own time and money to the cause to get the stand running by Christmastime. Steve and Vinny researched trees extensively online, and shipped in evergreens from Quebec, Canada and local wholesalers. The two invested a "substantial amount" of their own money into the start-up, paying "big money" for quality trees.  They convinced a postal customer to house their stock in his business lot nearby and enlisted the help of family and friends to work the stand. The duo chose to name their stand to honor the former vendor that occupied the lot for over 30 years, and thus "Bushy Trees" was born.

News of the new business travelled rapidly by word of mouth, and soon Steve and Vinny found that their side project nearly turned into a full-time job.

"We do our regular job for eight hours during the day for and then come here for four to five hours. Weekends we both work straight 12 hours," Collins said.

Steve and Vinny are battle-tested for their work Bushy Trees after delivering mail through the snow, sleet and hail through the years. Downing Dunkin Donuts coffee throughout the day and hot chocolate after 6 p.m., the two say the key is to "just keep moving." But despite the long hours and frigid temperatures, Fratalia assured that they do still have fun.

"We meet our postal customers, and friends come from all over to see us," he said.

Their friend and fellow postal worker Christine Bradley stopped by on Monday evening to pick up her Christmas tree and catch up with the guys. She's purchased her tree from Steve and Vinny two years in a row.

"They are friendly and have a great selection," Bradley said.

Both men greeted her warmly as she arrived and they discussed the how quickly their business is growing by word of mouth. Last year, the duo unexpectedly ran out of stock and had customers fighting for the last few trees on the lot. Collins and Vitallia have budgeted for extra trees this year and plan to expand their selection next year to include cemetery arrangements, kissing balls and other wreath arrangements.

But regardless of profits, Collins and Vitallia say they've gained ten-fold from Steve and Vinny's Bushy Trees.

"It is not just about the money," Vitallia explained. "We deliver trees out of our own pick-up trucks and get to see friends, families and children… their eyes light up seeing the Christmas trees."

Steve and Vinny's Bushy Trees is open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on the weekends. Trees run from $25-$50 depending on type and height. Table top trees sell for $10 and door wreaths are also available for $12.