Courtesy photo Stacie DeJoie, the owner and operator of New England Yard Greetings, has seen a huge increase in business since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

HOLLIS – One local business owner is spreading joy in a really big way and has seen a significant increase in customers.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, people have had to get creative when celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other milestone events. While drive-by parades have become a new and popular way of celebrating, Stacie DeJoie, the owner and operator of New England Yard Greetings, is offering a unique service by setting out large signs for those passing by to see. Since the end of March, DeJoie has seen requests for yard greetings surge, and with graduation season just around the corner, she expects the uptick to continue.

“I’m working around the clock,” DeJoie said.

She started her Hollis-based business in 2018, and said she began as an affiliate to Memorial Yard Greetings, now Memorial Yard Signs based in Texas. Since she has been in business, she said she has not marketed extensively, instead taking business as it comes. However, after a recent yard greeting she set up was shared on a local online community page, business has increased significantly.

DeJoie said it has been nonstop, with 65 yard greetings requested so far for May.

Once people have a better understanding of what each individual school is going to be doing for graduation, DeJoie expects to see a flood of yard greeting requests. Her website, https://www.newenglandyardgreetings.com, has a booking request form that gathers the necessary information she needs to fulfill a request, such as the address and the personalized message the customer wants displayed. After the request is booked, DeJoie goes out with the signs and sets up the greeting where the customer wants.

DeJoie goes out to people’s homes at night when it is dark to quietly set up the surprise signs, and takes a picture and texts it to the customer as she quietly leaves. From there, the signage remains up for the entire next day before she returns to take them down.

DeJoie said she has had up to six jobs in one night, and while she has the inventory for it, she said she does not really have the manpower, because she is doing it all herself. While she does not employ anyone, DeJoie said she has been trying to get her children involved. While her oldest is heading into finals week as a freshman in college, DeJoie said she is not asking for much help from her, instead turning to her two sophomores at Hollis Brookline High School. DeJoie said she has to make sure the pay is enough to motivate them, noting she has gotten a request from every state in New England. She has done a lot of birthdays for kids, one woman’s 50th birthday and anniversaries. DeJoie also is getting requests for teachers for what would have been Teacher Appreciation Week.

She also is working to try to get in contact with the right people at hospitals in Nashua to set up signage for those working on the front lines during the pandemic. DeJoie received a request to do greetings (anonymously) outside two local hospitals reading, “Heroes Work Here” and “Our Heroes Wear Scrubs.”

DeJoie said these surprise signs are creating a lasting memory.

“I feel like there’s just so few surprises in life, so I like being able to deliver this and surprise people,” DeJoie said.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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