The traditional model followed by contractors in the holiday lighting business is to design, install, take down and store lights for customers who don’t want to or don’t have the time to decorate themselves. However, as businesses evolve, so do opportunities in the marketplace. Here are a few areas of opportunity holiday lighting suppliers have identified:
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Retail clients. Historically, contractors have marketed their holiday lighting services to high-end clients – usually double-income professionals. However, as the professionally installed displays continue to raise the bar and urge homeowners to “keep up with the Joneses,” that demographic isn’t the only one interested now, says Brad Finkle, owner of Creative Decorating, an Omaha, Neb.-based holiday decorator and supplier. This opens up the opportunity for retail sales to customers who are looking for commercial-grade lighting, but don’t have the budget for installation, takedown and storage. It’s especially advantageous for contractors who run retail garden centers, too.
Interior artificial holiday trees. Holiday lighting contractors benefit from the fact that people love holiday lights, but they hate to install them. The same goes for setting up artificial Christmas trees. “We already going to their home, why not make an additional sell of the holiday tree?” says Scott Heese, president and founder of Holiday Bright Lights, an Omaha, Neb.-based holiday lighting membership system and manufacturer. Last year Holiday Bright Lights began offering this service, which includes setting up the tree in the room the client prefers, but does not go as far as decorating the tree. Take down and storage are offered, too.