Holiday Decorating & Styling

Tree Pricing (Flat-Rate)

Tree styling labor includes complete unboxing, branch fluffing, light testing, and professional decorating using your existing ornaments.

• 5 ft – 6 ft Trees: $250 Setup & Styling | $150 Optional January Takedown | $400 Total

• 7 ft – 8 ft Trees: $450 Setup & Styling | $250 Optional January Takedown | $700 Total

• 9 ft Trees: $550 Setup & Styling | $300 Optional January Takedown | $850 Total

• 10 ft – 12 ft Trees: $750 Setup & Styling | $400 Optional January Takedown | $1,150 Total

• Trees Over 12 Feet: Contact for a custom quote. Displays exceeding 12ft require specialized pricing and custom handling.

Other Decor Pricing (Hourly Add-Ons)

All holiday styling outside of the main tree—such as fireplace mantels, staircase banisters, front door entryways, tabletop arrangements, standalone wreaths, and outdoor planters—is billed at a standard hourly rate.

• Standard Hourly Rate: $70 per hour, per assistant.

• During the Tree Session: Hourly minimum floors do not apply if additional decor styling is added during your scheduled flat-rate tree session. The client is simply billed for the actual extra time spent decorating on that day.

• On Another Day: Any decorating or setup sessions requested on a completely separate day from your tree installation carry a strict 3-hour minimum floor ($210) per calendar day, per assistant. Any time extending past the floor is billed at the standard $70/hour rate.

Shopping & Sourcing Pricing

Sourcing assistance is available if your holiday vision requires extra flair or fresh storage solutions.

• Shopping & Sourcing: Sourcing new decor or bins on your tree decoration day is simply billed for the actual time spent plus 76¢ per mile, with all retail merchandise costs and supplies paid for directly by the client.

• On Another Day: If shopping and sourcing are requested on a separate day completely outside of a scheduled tree session, a strict 3-hour minimum floor ($210) plus mileage applies. Any time extending past the 3-hour mark is billed at the standard $70/hour rate.

Tree Specifics & Requirements

Please review these structural requirements to ensure a seamless styling session.

• Faux Tree Setup: On-site assembly and branch-fluffing are gladly provided for all artificial (faux) trees.

• Real Tree Requirements: All real live trees must be completely delivered and securely placed upright in the water stand by the tree lot, nursery, or client prior to arrival. Live tree hauling, heavy lifting, and stand setup are not available.

• Ladder Requirements: A standard ladder is provided for trees up to 9 feet tall. For all trees 10 feet and taller, the client must provide a tall A-frame ladder on-site.

Daily Travel & Errand Fees

• Standard Commute: No fee for locations within a 15-mile radius (one-way). Any travel distance exceeding a 30-mile roundtrip is billed at $0.76/mile per assistant.

• On-the-Job Errands: Active session driving (such as product shopping) is billed at the standard hourly assistant rate of $70/hour.

• Errand Mileage: All miles accumulated while executing active, on-the-job errands are billed at $0.76/mile.

Direct Billing & Expense Management

To ensure seamless logistics, any holiday purchases, storage containers, custom ribbons, tree replacements, or delivery surcharges made on behalf of the client will be managed using one of the following three pre-approved options. The client must choose and initialize one option prior to the start of services if any styling supplies or procurement are required:

• Option A (Card on File): Client provides a primary credit card to be securely stored on file via an encrypted password management platform. This card will be authorized and charged directly for all real-time holiday decor purchases, material sourcing, storage container procurement, and specialized errand costs.

• Option B (Prepaid Expense Deposit): Client funds a designated upfront prepaid holiday expense deposit before styling work, tree sourcing, or decor shopping begins. Sort Theory will draw down from this prepaid fund to cover physical supplies, holiday containment solutions, or specialized vendor fees, providing an itemized receipt log on the final billing invoice. Any unused funds will be fully refunded upon project completion.

• Option C (Direct Platform Integration): Client saves payment information directly into the profiles of required shopping or delivery platforms (e.g., Amazon, Target, or local nurseries). Login credentials to these specific platforms will be securely shared via an encrypted password manager. This allows Sort Theory to place real-time decor or storage orders directly on the client's behalf without the company ever seeing or storing the raw credit card data.

Retainer & Payment Terms

• Securing Your Date: To hold and guarantee any holiday decorating date on the calendar, the flat-rate tree fee must be paid in full as a non-refundable retainer. No dates will be reserved or held without payment.

• On-the-Job Invoices: Any hourly add-on services, extra decorations, or shopping sessions accumulated during the project will be invoiced at the end of the day of service and are due immediately upon receipt.

• Material Expenses: All retail merchandise costs, store fees, and taxes are paid for directly by the client using the pre-approved expense management option selected above.

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

• Retainer Policy: Because holiday booking dates are tightly limited, the upfront flat-rate tree fee required to secure a date is entirely non-refundable in the event of a cancellation.

• Rescheduling Notice: A minimum of 72 hours written notice via email is required to change or reschedule a calendar date. If a rescheduling request is received with more than 72 hours' notice, the upfront retainer will be fully credited and transferred to the new date.

• Late Changes: Schedule changes or cancellations made with less than 72 hours' notice forfeit the original retainer, and a new deposit will be required to book a future slot.

• Provider Rescheduling: In the rare event that a session must be rescheduled by Sort Theory, a minimum of 72 hours' notice will be provided, except in cases of sudden illness or unsafe winter driving conditions/canyon closures. If a session must be rescheduled inside this window, the client will receive immediate priority booking for the next available date.