A Festive Approach to Expanding Your Business Portfolio

By Angela Z. Paules, Chief Marketing Officer, Buzz Franchise Brands

In the franchise world, there is a growing number of savvy entrepreneurs who are complementing their current seasonal franchises, growing their business portfolio, and spreading joy in their communities all at the same time. Thanks to the Grand Illuminations franchise concept, which offers full-service exterior holiday decorating including lighting and greenery for homes and businesses, franchise owners can now augment their seasonal business and enjoy year-round income.

“For so many, the brand is a perfect fit,” says Grand Illuminations president Brian Garrison. “Currently, all of our Grand Illuminations owners already have successful spring and summer franchises. This holiday decorating option is the ideal complement that minimizes the operational downtime these businesses often struggle with through the winter months, during which revenue essentially dries up but operational expenses continue.” 

Growing Demand For Festive Decorating

Grand Illuminations is a premier holiday lighting service providing complimentary design consultation, professional decor installation, as well as efficient removal and storage operations. With a full first season in the books, 15 franchise locations successfully operated across 11 states. As the latest concept introduced by Buzz Franchise Brands, Grand Illuminations was created to capitalize on the demand of a growing industry: Polaris Market Research shows the Christmas decoration industry is valued at $5.52 billion and is estimated to reach over $7 billion by 2030.

“We created Grand Illuminations to meet the growing enthusiasm for holiday decorating—providing a safer and more efficient option for decking the halls by utilizing our well-trained installation technicians to do the work,” says Garrison.

This need for qualified installation experts has created the opportunity for Grand Illuminations franchise owners to leverage their trained seasonal employees from their spring/summer businesses. Now, they can provide these crews thorough training and full-time employment in what used to be the off-season, roughly October-January.

Notably, this innovative franchise has multiple expansion possibilities outside the typical holiday season. Several of the brand’s locations are beginning to offer Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day decorations. Some die-hard football fans see great potential in lighting up homes and businesses in team colors, as well.

The Benefits of Grandly Illuminating

Grand Illuminations is not only creating a brighter holiday for homeowners and business owners who order the service, but generating a cheerful ambiance for the community as well.

“You can just tell by a home’s decorations that it’s been touched by Grand Illuminations because the décor is elevated, elegant and much like a Hallmark channel movie,” adds Garrison. “We use a consistent installation technique for its curb- appeal, and high-quality commercial grade LED lights that are energy efficient and eco-friendly. And of course, when the season is over, we take down the decorations that the customers lease and we store them in a climate-controlled space.”

Festive Franchise Ownership

From the franchise ownership perspective, this operation can be a seasonal side business, expand to a year-round operation with additional lighting services, or be used to complement an investment portfolio. Existing Grand Illuminations franchise owners come from a variety of backgrounds, proving the business can be a great fit as a family business, for couples or business partners, and those who own other seasonal franchises. The primary prerequisite? Entrepreneurs interested in franchising with the brand must love providing impeccable customer service and holiday spirit. 

The common thread when talking to any Grand Illuminations franchisees is the same. Trey from the South Carolina Midlands territory sums it up best: “We see smiles and sometimes tears - and we know we have made the holidays brighter for the family, and our community. Who wouldn’t want a business like this?”