Aldik EVP of Merchandising Mike Stadlberger with News Anchor Ann Curry on the Today Show set.

Aldik's Mike Stadlberger Appears on NBC's Today Show
in a Style Segment on Permanent Holiday Decor

Here's some of what Mike and Ann discussed during the segment...

Why would someone choose an artificial Christmas tree over a natural tree?

There are many reasons why someone would choose artificial over natural.

Topping the list would be convenience . Trees that are on the market today are available pre-lit, typically with 100 lights per foot. Not having to put lights on the tree is a big time saver.

As the trees dry they also become an increased fire hazard. With an artificial tree you will not need to water the tree and the material used in the manufacturing of most permanent trees is fire retardant .

After-holiday disposal . Simply fold up your artificial tree with the lights still attached and store it in the original box. Then forget about it until next year.

Durability . With proper care, your tree should last 10 years or more. I would suggest being sure your tree has metal hinges vs. plastic, as plastic can get brittle and break over time. There are also trees on the market with limited warranties.

Lastly, your artificial tree will save natural trees from being cut down.

There is a trace of pine scent. What is causing this?

The garland that we have used to decorate the hutch has a mixture of very realistic evergreen and pine components. So much of what is on the market today is so realistic you can not tell the difference from its natural counterpart.

What we have done to further create the illusion of fresh is to take some very small pine cuttings and incorporate them into the garland to provide fragrance. There are a variety of fragrance products on the market that could be added for the same effect.

The garland we have used here can be used as a base that other products can be added to in order to match your decorating theme. Artificial fruit, berries, ornaments, glitz, flowers -- about anything -- can be added to personalize your holiday decorating. If you want to change your decorating theme next year, simply change the added components with others to match your new look.

One of the best features is the durability of these foundation pieces. They can be bent and shaped to conform to the space they are being used in without fear of breaking. This is also a benefit for storage. When it is brought out again next season it will look as good as it did when you put it away.

When people think about flowers during the holidays we typically think poinsettias. Why would someone choose an artificial poinsettia over a natural one?

Potted poinsettias are a great way to add color to any room during the holidays. Nothing screams Christmas like red and green.

Someone may want to consider having an artificial poinsettia in something other than a bush form that can be used in other holiday decorations. While natural poinsettia bushes should remain healthy through the holidays with proper care, if you were to cut a branch off to use in an arrangement you can only expect the cut branch to last a few days, even when kept in water.

Artificial poinsettias today are very natural. What we have done here is place a bush in a more decorative container than the typical foil pot most commonly used. It gives the plant a more decorative feel.

Another consideration would be, especially if you have pets or small children in the home, natural poinsettias are toxic if eaten. What I might suggest instead, in addition to artificial poinsettias, would be the use of bulb plants such as red and white tulips, paper whites, snowdrops, or potted amaryllis like this one. There are also excellent flowering plants that can give you that splash of red and green.

The detail of these products is amazing. In the past artificial botanicals were designed to be perfect. Today, we intentionally design items with some flaws to duplicate the beauty of nature's imperfections...all the way down to the faux dirt and moss they are planted in.

Here again, if you were to use fresh “forced bulb” plants for decorating, there is a chance you would miss the holiday decorating window you had in mind. Take the worry out of it and go artificial. You can put these very natural artificials out at Thanksgiving and they will look just as great after Christmas when you pack them away for use next year.

Other than potted plants, what about making holiday arrangements with artificial components?

There is an endless amount of artificial products on the market to fit whatever decorating theme you have, from the most realistic items that we have focused on here to heavily glittered products in fantasy colors. This year, one of the predominate decorating themes is "keep it simple and keep it natural".

What we have done here is to take a drop-in bundle of pine branches and add some artificial Illyx berry sprays to it. The drop-in cluster of pine sprays makes a great foundation. Different artificial or natural items can be added to it next year to give it a different look.

Keep in mind that all of these components are on a wire based stem and can be shaped as desired. With a cut berry branch, fresh or dried, you are dealing with a rigid stick that is much less versatile. Again, there are no shedding or upkeep issues to deal with and these products store easily.

Another easy decorating tip is simply using bowls of artificial fruit and gourds to accent your room setting. You won’t have to deal with any spoilage, and no fruit flies. Also, it is very easy to add a little touch of artificial pine or berries as a decorative accent to give your arrangement a more festive feel.