Job Description of Holiday Decoration Service
For some people, the year revolves around Christmas. These people light their houses brighter than O’Hare Airport, install more plastic elves and reindeer than Macy’s, and buy garlands by the truckload. Anyone responsible for the setup of a spectacular, complex outdoor display knows that it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to do it right. Then come January, it all has to be taken down and put away until the next season. A holiday decoration service offers the expertise, time, and equipment to help busy people create, set up, and maintain a holiday display.
- Plan outdoor holiday decorations in consultation with clients.
- Set up lights and displays; purchase and repair elements as needed.
- Remove holiday decorations and store them according to client’s instructions.
Holiday Decoration Service Challenges
You’ll need to know more than a little about architecture, engineering, woodworking, and electrical devices. Not that you’ll have to build a house, design systems, or make changes to the wiring layout, but you will be standing on stepladders, stringing wires, and plugging electrical components into mains.
Outdoor wiring needs to be of better construction than cheaper indoor sets, and you’ll need to be aware of wattage loads and ground fault interrupters. You may need to construct frames for lighting and displays, or hang them from elements of the home.
This job is obviously tied to the holiday season. Setup may begin around Thanksgiving, and dismantling may be requested just after New Year’s Day. In addition to the economic impact of a short season, you may have to deal with cold weather and snow in many parts of the country.
Know the Territory
Spend the time to become familiar with electrical circuits. You’ll also need to learn about ways to protect outdoor wiring from the effects of rain, snow, and cold weather; outdoor outlets need to be properly grounded, and wiring must be protected from the elements.
The laws of physics limit acceptable loads on electrical circuits; extension cords are rated for a specified wattage that decreases as their length increases. In most cases you will be responsible for maintaining the display while it is in service. Some localities may have laws or regulations limiting the brightness of outdoor
displays or prohibiting sound systems. Some neighborhoods may have regulations limiting displays to cut down on traffic.
How to Get Started Holiday Decoration Service
Post flyers and ads in community centers, home supply stores, and retail stores. Place ads in newspapers and shopping guides, especially in special preholiday advertising sections. Contact stores that specialize in sales of Christmas decorations; they may be willing to post flyers for your services or recommend you to customers seeking this sort of assistance.
Do the same with specialty Christmas shops; offer to purchase supplies there, to pay a bonus or commission, or both. Contact area businesses that hang holiday decorations and offer your services. Ask friends and acquaintances to recommend you; in exchange, offer a bonus or discount on future services. Do the same with satisfied customers.
Up-front Expenses for Holiday Decoration Service
You’ll need a basic tool kit with a hammer, screwdrivers, and various hangers. For electrical devices, a continuity tester and ground fault tester will be valuable. You’ll also need one or more ladders and a vehicle to carry your equipment. Create a portfolio of pictures, digital images, and videos of work you have
performed for other clients. Other expenses include advertising and promotion.
Charge for Holiday Decoration Service
Charge by the hour for your labor, plus the cost of lights and any other devices you purchase; you should be able to buy materials at wholesale or discounted prices and resell them at retail prices. Another way to bill is on a cost-plus basis. Compute the hours of work, the actual cost of materials purchased, and a preagreed percentage of profit.