HOUSTON — As a part of KHOU 11’s Eleven Days of Christmas series, we are taking you inside one of the largest family-owned Christmas stores in Houston and showing you what makes it special, especially at this time of year.
Since 2000, when Crafttex wholesale opened a magical holiday part of their store, Christmas has been a smashing hit. “We're having a very successful year. We are breaking records with sales. We're doing fantastic,” said Michael Cegura Craft Tex lead designer.
As Michael Cegura walked down the aisles of the store, he took trips down memory lane.
“I used to shop here when I was a teenager,” Cegura siad.
He’s not loading up shopping bags these days. He serves a bigger role.
“I've basically come full circle here, and becoming an employee here. I’m also one of the buyers,” Cegura said. “Crafttex is a staple here in the town. We have no other store like this in town.”
With Houston being one of the most diverse cities in the country, it’s no wonder Crafttex products echo that same theme.
“We source the world. We shop the world," Cegura said. "So, we bring a little bit of everything to you here in Houston.”
Designers from Crafttex travel to trade shows in Germany and France to get items such as disco balls in different sizes and different colors.
There’s more flying off the shelves sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
“So big ornaments, larger than life ornaments. People love those things.
A tree like their ombré beauty stands tall and stands out with whimsical layers of color, catching the eye of new customers this year. However, their best top-selling tree this year is the black, gold, and white Christmas tree. People love the chic look. It’s sold out for the Christmas season, staff said.
Another tree favorite this year is decked out in a known royal color.
“Purple, purple and gold, purple and champagne,” Cegura said.
If you ever want to create holiday magic at home, Crafttex offers do-it-yourself classes.
“Everybody wants to learn how to make a Christmas bow, a Christmas wreath, the Christmas swag,” Cegura said.
As for people who’ve never stepped foot into this winter wonderland.
“All the oohs and the awws. I think, 'My gosh, this is amazing! Come look at this display. No, come here.'" Cegura said. "You know, it's amazing. It's very gratifying to hear people and their reactions when they first come in."
For Cegura, there’s a sense of pride starting off as a young teen customer to now, Craftex’s top floral designer, spreading holiday cheer one life-size ornament at a time.
“Christmas is a booming business," Cegura said. It’s a big industry and we love it.”