Energy Crunch Stimulates Homemade Gift-Giving

Although the increase in fuel prices and the prospect of higher energy bills is taking a toll on many American retailers, the Welburn Gourd Farm, the largest supplier of hard-shell gourds for crafting, is seeing online web sales boom as shoppers turn to making home-made gifts as a way to save money this holiday season.

For Immediate Release

Fallbrook, CA (PRWEB) October 27, 2005 -- Although the increase in fuel prices and the prospect of higher energy bills is taking a toll on many American retailers, the Welburn Gourd Farm, the largest supplier of hard-shell gourds for crafting, is seeing online web sales boom as shoppers turn to making home-made gifts as a way to save money this holiday season.

“Gourds have always been popular for making hand-crafted gifts, but this year we’re seeing a huge increase in new customers buying off our web site, most of them interested in saving money on holiday gifts,” says Phoebe Welburn, Vice President of Welburn Gourd Farm, Inc.

Hard-shell gourds are different from the orange, yellow, and green-colored, ornamental gourds seen this time of year, which are popular for table decorations. Although in the same squash family as ornamental gourds, hard-shell gourds have a hard, brown-colored shell, are hollow on the inside, and will last indefinitely when kept away from moisture and direct sun.

One of the reasons hard-shell gourds are so popular for making gifts is because they are so versatile. Their durable, wood-like shell makes them ideal for painting, carving, sanding, dying, woodburning, and even weaving on and sculpting with. Anything that can be done on wood can be done on gourds.

“Economic slow-downs always result in increased business for us because, not only do people look to save money by making their own gifts, they also turn their artistic talents into a sideline business through selling their gourd-wares at local art and craft shows,” Welburn says.

The farm, located in Southern California in North San Diego County, has also seen a shift over the past several months from offline to online sales with its local customers, most likely due to the increase in fuel prices.

“It used to be people living anywhere within a 200 mile radius would drive to the farm to select their gourds. Now we’re seeing customers located in just the next town choosing to order their gourds online from our web site rather than spend the money in gas,” says Welburn.

If you are new to the world of gourds, the Welburn Gourd Farm recommends beginning with the Gourd Starter Kit, which includes ten cleaned, craft-ready gourds of various shapes, an eighty-page, full-color book with instructions for 20 different gourd projects, and all the tools and supplies you need for cutting and cleaning your gourds.

For more information visit the Welburn Gourd Farm web site at http://www.welburngourdfarm.com or call 1-877-420-2613.

Contact:
Phoebe Welburn, Vice President
Office: 760.728.4271 Cell: 760.272.9899

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