Sun Devil-founded Christmas tree business gives back

On the last day of Christmas two Sun Devils gave to me a Christmas tree removal, hassle free! 

Ahwatukee Christmas LLC is a natural tree removal business that was created by two ASU students in December 2017. 

Childhood friends and current roommates Connor Hogan, 21, and Dillon Newgaard, 22, started their business after helping their parents remove the natural Christmas trees from their homes. 

“We figured out pretty early that other people needed this business,” said Hogan, who is a finance major.

What started off as a Facebook listing that charged $10 per tree is now a very popular and growing service. 

Ahwatukee Christmas offers two removal options.

From left: Connor Hogan, Morgan Taylor, Cole Newgaard and Dillon Newgaard of Ahwatukee Christmas tree removal

For $15, your tree and excess branches will be picked up from your curb. For $25, Ahwatukee Christmas will remove the tree from inside your home, carry it out, sweep and vacuum tree droppings and wash out your tree stand. 

The company is focused on disposing of natural trees in a sustainable manner. The trees are delivered to facilities where they are chipped and turned into mulch instead of being dumped in landfills. 

In the first year of operation, Hogan and Newgaard stayed local, only serving surrounding communities. This year, they decided to open the service to the whole Valley. 

“This is the first year that we went off our range, and it brought us a lot more revenue,” said Newgaard, who is majoring in business management.

This post-Christmas season they were able to serve more than 140 homes and triple their revenue.  

Ahwatukee Christmas is made up of Hogan and Newgaard along with Newgaard’s brother Cole and friend Morgan Taylor. 

Hogan uses his academic background in finance to develop business strategies and “philanthropic initiatives.”

Newgaard is using his education in business management and analytics to create an efficient route for the drivers to take in between home locations. 

“If we can make a system to make less mistakes and be more efficient, we will grow as a business,” Newgaard said. 

Not only does the company provide a service to Ahwatukee and the surrounding communities, it also gives back. 

Pairing up with a local tree business, Ahwatukee Christmas donates trees to families in need who are nominated on their website. They will donate a tree along with a stand, lights and decorations and help set them up in their homes. 

During the 2019 holiday season, they donated six trees, and they hope to donate at least 10 during the 2020 season. 

“It’s heartwarming because kids get joy from putting an ornament on a tree; those are the things you don’t expect to see but when you're out there and doing it. It makes it completely worth it,” Hogan said.  

Ahwatukee Christmas is the result of two driven and hardworking Sun Devils, and Hogan has coined it, “an innovative solution that is both sustainable and serves the less fortunate members of our community.” 

For more information visit their website or contact them at ahwatukeechristmas@gmail.com.