By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRI BUNE

A little bit of Frankenmuth is coming to Novi. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, located in the picturesque German-themed town of Frankenmuth, Mich., has been commissioned to supply trees, lights, and other festive decorations for Fox Run.

The store has been providing holiday decorations from bows to wreaths and lights to Santa suits since 1945. Lauded as the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s is visited by more than two million guests annually.

“Judi Donovan (director of general services at Fox Run) contacted us last April,” says Kevin Maurer, who’s been handling commercial sales at Bronner’s for the past 30 years.

More than 9,000 lights will sparkle
“We’re using a lot of burgundy, blue, and gold to match the décor,” Maurer says. “We went to Fox Run and took a look at what they already had. One 14-foot tree will feature 3,700 lights. There will also be two 12- foot trees with 2,700 lights each.” The trees will be pre-lit and decorated when they  arrive at Fox Run on huge platforms; little assembly will be required by staff members.

Some of the lights being supplied for the holidays will feature new “LED” lights. “It’s kind of a national trend with ‘going green,’” Maurer says. “It’s a real money saver. Regular lights provide about 3,000 hours of use, while LED lights are good for 200,000 hours.” Many hotels and malls have already been using these cost-effective holiday lights.

Spreading holiday magic
Besides the trees and lights, Bronner’s will provide other items such as figurines, wreaths, and swags. Bronner’s is open to the public 361 days a year, but now residents at Fox Run can marvel at some of the store’s holiday magic in their own backyard.