Holiday Decor as a Profit Center for Interiorscapers has been around since the 80’s with most companys doing poinsettia and a wreath or two.  Holiday continued to grow as trees, wreaths, and garland were added to the mix.

In the Begininng
Lighting relied on the C-7’s of the 50" and 60’s, to the ubiquitous white "minis" of the ’90’s.  Lighting was a skill and took time.  Most ’scapers avoided Holiday mainly because of the lighting hassle.  Then, the importers started offerring "Prelit" products.  It was an industry changing innovation.  Holiday as a Profit Center took off.

The Prelits Expand to the Consumer
In just a few years the prelit product was not only available to the professionals but to the Box stores and Garden Centers as a retail product.  Consumers, also frustrated with lighting and relighting jumped on the prelits.  In some instances this took away the interiorscapers appearance of "design expertise" but still jobs kept coming.

Props and Themes Rule
By now it took far more than just a big tree or lots of lights to make a design stand out.  Props and Themes became part of the Decor.  Winter Wonderland, Father Christmas, Fairies and Bunnies and Bears started showing up in lobbies galore.

The Next Question
And that’s where it stands in the Year 2006.  But what does the Future of Holiday look like?  How can you stay one snowshoe ahead of the pack?  Check out Lighting again. 

The LED’s are Coming.  The LED’S are Coming.
The’ve been around for a few years now.  LED lights that last 100,000 to 250,000 hours.  That give off no heat.  And that use far less wattage than a typical Holiday bulb.  The problems to date have been discrepancies in color particularly the white, clear bulbs but each year they get better and better.  It’s obvious that , not too many years from now, they wil be the product of choice.

Think of the Possibilities
Trees that never have to be relit, 10 and 15 year replacement rates when material is handled properly.  Exteriors of buildings outlined with LED light strings that only need 1 time Installation, can be left in place unlit for the remainder of the year only to be turned on again the next November, and that use up so little power that they are as "green" as grass.

The Question is Not If but How Soon
Get ready ’scapers.  Keep checking with the GKI’s and Creative Displays of our world.  It’s a Bright, Bright, Bright Future.