TINY SINGERS BRING GREAT CHEER: Byers’ Choice sharing warmth with signature Carolers

Story by Jean Knouse | Photos provided by Byers’ Choice, Ltd.

someone needs to bring the song books and you need a meeting place, but, otherwise, Christmas caroling doesn’t require much preparation. No one cares if you have a great voice, but you will get to spend time with friends of all ages who are full of holiday spirit and there will be — fingers crossed — cookies and cocoa before you go home! Joyce Byers grew up in a community rich in the traditions of the German immigrants who settled Lancaster County. Decorating the tree, baking 20 kinds of cookies with her mother and grandmother, and singing the songs of the season are the memories she treasures from her childhood. At Drexel University, Joyce studied fashion design and it was there she met her future husband, Bob. After graduation,

AN 18TH CENTURY ITALIAN PRESEPIO IS ALWAYS ON DISPLAY IN THE CRÉCHE ROOM.

the Byers Choice, Ltd. Visitors Center is a visual experience at any time of the year, but it is especially festive during the holiday season. After viewing a short film in the little Victorian theatre, you can enjoy a walk down a cobble-stone street in a replica of Charles Dickens’ London. The museum of the Byers’ Caroler displays is a walk through history. However, before you visit the gift shop, be sure to stop in the room that houses the Créche Collection. Some of the 200 nativities from around the world are beautiful in their simplicity, while others are splendid in their intricacy. Some of the nativities were created by children, while others were produced by professional artists. There are Créches made of stone, wood, paper and plaster, but no two are alike. Judy Helcoski, of Moosic, Pa., said “I had no idea there was a nativity museum at the Visitors Center, but it is so beautiful I would like to visit it again. I didn’t save enough time during this visit.”

n Location: 4355 County Line Road, Chalfont, PA n Website: www:ByersChoice. com n Phone: 215-822-0150 Joyce worked for three years as a designer for a children’s clothing company. However, nearly all of her adult life has been devoted to the design and creation of Christmas carolers — Byers’ Carolers. To explain how she came up with the idea of making carolers, Joyce said that like most young couples, they didn’t have much money for Christmas decorations. However, she didn’t like the aluminum trees with blue lights and ornaments that were popular at the time. She said those trees did not celebrate the warmth of the season. As she worked to create that “warmth” in their home, she was thinking about how everyone loves singing Christmas carols. That spark of an idea led her to design and make several carolers as a centerpiece for their dining room table. Visitors were impressed with the charming carolers and a friend suggested they were so clever she should make them to sell. The next year, a few were sold at neighborhood shops, but Joyce credits the beginning of her company’s success to a Women’s Exchange in Wayne, Pa. The exchange worked with women, many of whom were stay-at-home moms, to offer their hand-crafted items to participating exchanges and retailers to sell. Joyce points out that for many women it was a way to earn a few extra dollars at a time when most women were stay-at-home moms. As sales of carolers were increasing, Bob’s construction business was experiencing a slow-down during a dip in the national economy. Recognizing Joyce’s success, he made the decision to join her full-time in the business. Their son, Jeff, said, “At the time Byers’ Choice Ltd. was incorporated in 1978, my father had always wanted to start his own business and my mother’s creativity presented him with the opportunity. They both saw the Carolers as a small Christmas handcraft and had no idea back then that it would grow into an international holiday tradition that would continue to be popular more than 40 years later.” Bob took a selection of carolers to a gift show in New York City and it was immediately obvious that he was a natural salesman. He returned from the show with lots of orders for carolers, but, now the question was, how were they

building a business that honors your family’s values, celebrates handcrafted excellence, and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to community, is an amazing accomplishment. Bob and Joyce Byers founded Byers’ Choice, Ltd. in 1978 and the success of their company led to the creation of the Byers Foundation in 1982. Their early commitment to using a portion of company profits to support worthy charitable organizations in their community has benefited many groups and causes. Through the years, Bob and Joyce had served on a myriad of boards and committees. It was Bob — who passed away in 2020 — who often stepped forward to help with projects he supported. He co-founded Bucks Beautiful, the James A. Michener Art Museum and the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project. On the national level, Bob Byers was on the National Board of Directors of the Salvation Army for 18 years. Through Bob’s work with this organization, the Byers were able to meet many interesting people. One of Joyce’s favorites was Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Greater Philadelphia Area National Fundraisers honored Bob and Joyce Byers as Philanthropists of the Year for 1993. In 2000, the Byers were awarded the National Caring Award in honor of their “commitment to being ʻvalues driven entrepreneurs,’ their support for countless community philanthropies, and their habit of practicing random acts of kindness in their community.” Joyce and Bob Byers, recognized for their values, their product’s excellence, and their commitment to community, have passed those values to the next generation. Their son Jeff explained, “My brother, Bob and I both feel very blessed to have been involved with Byers’ Choice for the majority of our professional careers and are both committed to continuing the legacy of the Byers’ Foundation.”

— JEAN KNOUSE

going to fill all of those orders? A company that began at their dining room table moved to their garage and successively larger work spaces. Their final production home is at their current headquarters. After they graduated from college, the Byers’ sons, Bob Jr. and Jeff joined the company. Bob Jr. oversees production and Jeff manages marketing and design. Continuing to grow their business required employees who loved Christmas and had a little artistic talent or wanted to learn. Joyce fondly refers to these employees as “artisans,” and, she adds, “It is their attention to detail as they paint, dress and pose the carolers that creates something wonderfully unique.” To begin the creation of a caroler, Joyce sculpts a head from which a mold is created. After the heads are turned out of the mold, an artisan “cleans up” the face, which was slightly distorted when it came out of the mold. Another artisan paints the faces and another forms the body from a hanger that is anchored in a plaster base that is painted green. The body is then formed with tissue paper. Each artisan who assembles a caroler is given all of the “parts” to complete 100 carolers. These include the heads, the bodies, the wigs, and the fabric pieces and accessories. Joyce has always selected all of the fabrics and accessories that are used for the carolers. Adjusting the drape of the clothing or changing a pose are ways in which a dresser adds life and personality to each caroler. The final step is a tiny holly leaf that will adorn the character. Perhaps it will be on the hat or a collar or on a special feature of the costume. Bob Jr., Joyce’s son, said, “The expression of joy that can be found in any Caroler comes directly from the love and caring that our skilled artisans put into

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byers Carolers have been on yearround display at Country Cupboard, 101 Hafer Road, Lewisburg for many years. In the beginning, the only choice was among Christmas Carolers. Today, there are “singers” for Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Visitors from all over the country have purchased Byers Carolers to take home with them as a souvenir of their travel through Pennsylvania, but they continue to be popular with local collectors as well. Joyce Byers has traveled to Country Cupboard several times and always receives a “warm” welcome.

LINDA SHOTWELL, A SHOPPING ASSISTANT AT COUNTRY CUPBOARD IN LEWISBURG, ADDS A CAROLER TO THE DISPLAY. Robert Inglis/Inside Pennsylvania

their work. They bring the magic of Christmas to life everyday.” Sadly, Bob Sr. passed away last year. Although their loss is still very new, Joyce and her sons will continue the Byers’ Choice Ltd. traditions they established as a family. Every member of the Byers team, will continue their work to celebrate the season with Carolers that will provide holiday “warmth” for years to come.