They Bring Light (s) To The Christmas Season

When Bobby Cooper opened his business, Big Top Party Rentals,  in 1992 he quickly discovered that running a seasonal business had its downfalls.  Long New England winters meant business slowed down drastically and Cooper tried everything from installing carpets to renting Santas in order to keep the business profitable.

Finally, over ten years ago, Cooper came across the idea of designing, selling and installing Christmas lights.

After some marketing research and a four day training course in Calgary, Canada, Cooper was ready to branch out in a different direction and, The Christmas Light People was born. 

 While he credits the training for getting him started, Cooper admits that it was on the job experience that helped to make him a success.  “The training was good and I did learn a couple of applications,” explained Cooper.  “The first three years were a bit of trial and error but now I truly feel like I can’t possibly learn anymore.”

A perfect fit, the Christmas Light business keeps Cooper and his staff busy from October thru April, the slowest season for party rentals.  Now, as they enter their eleventh season, The Christmas Light People has grown from twenty jobs to over one hundred and thirty per year. 

“My busiest month for party rentals used to be June and now I’m even busier in November with lights,” said Cooper.

With a mix of private homes, restaurants and other mixed commercial locations, The Christmas Light People’s client list is both long and varied.  Customers are scattered from Williston, Vermont and Bangor, Maine to as far South as Cape Cod and even Bridgeport Connecticut.  In addition, Cooper has expanded West into the Springfield area too.  Among his clients are even two New England Patriots players.

While their smallest job this season was hanging a sixty inch wreath and approx 15 feet of extension cord for a single mom their largest consisted of four thousand feet of extension cords, garland and lights at one site.  “We do jobs of all sizes for all sorts of different locations,” Cooper pointed out.

So, what has been the key to The Christmas Light People’s success?  “I knew the business would be big, just not this big,” mentioned Cooper.  “I truly feel that we do the best designs and installations out there.  We have extensive knowledge of electrical applications, use only the best, commercial grade products and have a keen eye for detail.”

In addition Cooper is especially of the name he chose, The Christmas Light People.  “I am very proud of our name.  It describes exactly what we do,” Cooper said.

Of course, loving what you do makes all the difference in the world.  I like being outside working and I love working with lights,” explained Cooper.  “We get a lot of praise and it is very rewarding. It is absolutely the best job I have ever had.”

For Cooper a well trained, experienced staff is truly what keeps The Christmas Light People in business.  With three longtime employees, Ashley Hennessey, Keo Sayasani and Mark Wagner, Cooper is able to approach each job with total confidence. 

“These three people make my job easier and truly make it all happen,” explained Cooper.  “As long as we are a team we are going to be successful.”