Christmas traditions run deep at Live Love and Laugh Flowers, Antiques and Gifts in Belleville.
So deep, in fact, that the family-run store’s popular Christmas Village has been providing the holiday feels throughout the year. At Christmas time, however, it comes alive with the spirit of the season as two rooms are filled with all things Christmas — from Christmas balls to decorations of all kinds.
“We have an all-year-round Christmas Village. We actually have two rooms right now with Christmas in the Village; the majority of the year it’s just the one huge room,” said store owner Lynn Ackerman. “And, it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s full of decorations for the festive season. It’s also full of collectibles.”
Ackerman said she not sure how many pieces (“a lot”) make up the Christmas Village or even when it originated, but she acknowledged the role the shop’s designers played in making the idea of a Christmas wonderland into a reality.
“I think just the love of the season and it kind of goes along with the designers and all their creativity,” said Ackerman. “Seasonal decorations, actually — we do a bit of seasonal decorations for Halloween and Easter and the whole bit — but Christmas is the huge one, for sure. We always ask (the staff) what their input is and what they think people are looking for.”
Designer Joanne Hiddleston decorates the Christmas tree for the shop and, pre-COVID-19 pandemic, she organized tree decorating classes at the store. “She has an amazing creative talent to decorate the tree for sure,” said Ackerman.
Customers’ reaction to the Christmas Village always delights and augments the splendour of the season.
“They just love it. The whole store is kind of a feel-good store really. It’s got a lot to offer and it appeals to all your senses. They love to be in there for sure,” said Ackerman. “It’s true that seeing is believing.”
The full-service flower and gift shop opened in 1995 in the Sommerville Centre before moving to the Reid’s Dairy Village in 2000 at 222 Bell Blvd, Unit 12, where it exists today.
The store offers fresh flowers, indoor plants, giftware that corresponds to flowers, napkins, soaps, fragrances, glass ornaments, outdoor decor, chimes and stepping stones and seasonally it offers a garden centre.
Live Love and Laugh Flowers is truly a small family business with two daughters and a granddaughter working as well as staff members who are regarded as family, many of whom having worked at the business for a long time. The store relies on 10 staff members including daughters Natalie Ackerman, who’s the head designer, and Jennifer Bonter. Granddaughter Cassandra Ackerman also works at the shop along with son Chris Ackerman who handles trucking work at the garden centre. She and her husband Larry do the books at home and help out with the managing.
“It really is a good group of women working together,” said Ackerman.
For all inquiries about Live Love and Laugh Flowers Antiques and Gifts in Belleville, go to the store’s website at www.liveloveandlaugh.com.
