You can't help but to feel joy when you look at any Byers' Choice Caroler, the reason is they are all singing - men, women, children, animals - doesn't matter, each and every one is singing. It isn't just the O shaped mouth, but also the "deep in the joy of singing" look in the eyes of the carolers that really catches the imagination, but whatever song is imagined they are singing, the mood is that of joyfulness and cheer. Byers' Choice Ltd. is the parent company of Byers' Carolers, a company celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year. Located north of Philadelphia in Chalfont, Pennsylvania in historic Buck County, the caroling figures are all hand crafted at the company center by a team of 180 skilled artisans the old fashioned way, one by one, each one unique with a personality all its own. The faces are sculpted in clay, (each one still personally designed by company founder Joyce Byers), and hand finished using oil and acrylic paints by one of the company artists. Just as in life, all faces are different. They are based on traditional 19th Century English Victorian era characters. The wire armature base of the body is made from a clothes hanger secured in a plaster base for the figure. The wire is wrapped in tissue paper to give shape to the body. The clothing is designed to resemble the historic period clothing worn by each of the characters. Clothing is made from felt, cloth, ribbon and trims, and always present on each figure is a holly berry leaf, the company's way of signing each piece with a logo. The inspiration for the characters depicted by the carolers is based on traditional 19th Century English folk. Series lines include Dickens Characters, Nutcracker Suite, Children of the World, Cries of London (characters showing 19th Century vendors, peddling their wares, usually in song, many of these songs became the folk songs of today), Historical Figures, Christmas Figures, Nativity Figures, Salvation Army Figures, and characters from everyday life such as teacher, doctor, chimney sweep, newsboy. The company was founded in 1978 by Joyce and Bob Byers. During a trip to London many years earlier, Joyce was inspired by a pair of porcelain figures she saw in an antique shop. She felt the figures captured the Spirit of Christmas. Armed with her degree in fashion design, Joyce set out to recreate that feeling in her carolers. For the first carolers she designed, she used everyday items found around her home. In dressing them and in creating the characters, she always kept in mind that traditional feel and old fashioned spirit of Christmas that she felt when looking at the antique figurines. Joyce's carolers were so popular with relatives and friends who visited her home during the holidays, she decided to make them as gifts. A neighbor suggested that she take some to a local store. That store was part of the Women's Exchange, a place where women could bring their wares to sell. That local exchange was part of a national exchange and, before she knew it, her carolers were being sold around the country and the response was phenomenal. Soon the business, conducted out of the family dining room, was overtaking their home. In 1978, the Byers converted their garage into workspace, hired their first employee and the rest, as they say is history. Today, Byers' Choice Ltd. is one of the largest producers of Christmas decorations in the United States. The business has always been considered by Joyce and Bob as a family business, evidenced by the fact that both of their sons are employed there; Bob oversees production and Jeff works in marketing and design. The Byers consider their employees their extended family. That is exactly the message 17 year employee Joanne Hubrig conveys as she travels around the northeast visiting retailers that carry the Byers' Choice Carolers and telling the story of the individual carolers and of the Byers family. In October, Hubrig visited The Glue Factory in North Chili as part of their Byers' Choice event. "Byers' Choice is truly a company about tradition, we are proud of the fact that we are a made in the USA success story," Hubrig says. At the Byers' events, she answers collectors questions about the characters, the inspirations and demonstrates accessories available to help display collections. She also demonstrates uses for the figures in decorating the home for the holidays. "It's wonderful to meet the collectors and to tell the stories and to inform collectors about family oriented and community minded philosophy of the company," Hubrig says. The Byers' Choice Ltd. company philosophy reflects their dedication to tradition. They strive to produce a quality product at a fair price, to provide the people they work with a great place to work and to let them know that they are truly a part of the extended family, and that everyone has a responsibility to give back to the community by making it a better place to live and improving the lives of those that live there. They follow up this philosophy with extensive charitable giving to a host of causes. Byers' Choice has expanded their visitors center in Pennsylvania to include a museum which includes a life-sized London street scene and vignettes that include hundreds of carolers on display, an emporium for shopping, an observation deck, where visitors can see the artisans bringing the carolers to life, and formal gardens surrounding the Christmas Gallery, that includes a collection of sculpture by national artists. Byers' Choice Carolers are available locally at many locations including The Glue Factory, The Hollyday Shop, Ridge Road Station, A Touch of Country Class and The Unique Shop. |
Joanne Hubrig travels around the northeast telling the stories of Byers’ Choice Carolers and the story of the Byers’ Choice Ltd. company and their commitment to the spirit of an old fashioned Christmas. Photograph by Barbara Burke.
This is Victoria, the Byers' Caroler 25th Anniversary commemorative piece. The figure is fashioned after a young Victorian girl pictured on a 100 year old Christmas card that caught the eye of Joyce Byers. She reproduced the image exactly, down to each detail, even specially ordering custom made fabric to match the girls' skirt. Photograph by Barbara Burke.