From Jason Geiman - Installing since 2014, trained thousands of installers nationwide

1. Start Smart, Build Each Year (Lesson from Thousands of Installs)

After installing on thousands of homes since 2014, I've learned the best displays grow over time. Start with your roofline - it's your biggest impact. Commercial grade lights last 10+ years, so you can add each season. I've seen customers still using lights from my first installations in 2014. Buy quality once instead of replacing cheap lights annually.

2. Why I Switched to LED (And Never Looked Back)

When I started in 2014, we installed both. Now it's LED only. Real numbers from actual installs: LEDs let you connect 40+ strings versus 3-5 incandescent strings per circuit. That means one outlet can power your entire house. I've measured the actual power draw - it's 90% less. This isn't marketing, it's what I've proven on thousands of homes.

3. Weather-Proofing (Learned the Hard Way)

I've installed in every weather condition and trained installers across the country. The difference between lights that last and lights that fail? Proper mounting and sealed connections. Never use staples - I've seen too many dangerous situations. Professional clips cost pennies but protect hundred-dollar investments. IP67-rated products survive anything nature throws at them.

4. Commercial Grade is Non-Negotiable

After handling thousands of light sets, the difference is obvious. Commercial grade uses 18-gauge wire that stays flexible in freezing temps. Retail uses 22-gauge that gets brittle. I've trained thousands of installers, and the first thing I teach: you can feel quality. The wire is thicker, the sockets are sealed, the bulbs are replaceable.

5. Power Planning (The Foundation of Every Install)

In 10 years and thousands of homes, the biggest mistakes always involve power. Map your outlets first. Know your breakers - usually 15 amps each. With LEDs, that's 1,800 watts or about 2,000 lights safely. I teach every installer: power planning determines everything else. Get this right and the rest is easy.

This isn't theory - it's what I've learned installing thousands of homes and teaching thousands of installers since 2014.

From Jason Geiman - Installing Since 2014 | Trained Thousands of Installers | Helped Generate Over $50 Million in Christmas Light Installations

After helping installers generate over $50 million in Christmas light revenue and personally installing on thousands of homes since 2014, I know exactly what products work and what doesn't. This guide shares the exact product knowledge I teach every successful installer.

C9 LED Christmas Lights - The Revenue Driver

C9 LEDs are in 80% of the installations that built that $50 million in revenue. At 3 inches with E17 base, these are your roofline profit makers. Why successful installers choose C9s: They create maximum street impact, command premium pricing, and connect 90+ strings safely. From tracking thousands of jobs, C9 rooflines average $8-12 per foot installed. Commercial grade C9s with faceted lenses and 50,000-hour ratings ensure no callbacks - crucial when you're scaling to six figures.

C7 LED Christmas Lights - The Versatility Champion

Every installer I've trained who's built a $100k+ business masters C7 applications. At 2 inches with E12 base, C7s work everywhere C9s are too large. Revenue insight: C7s on trees and peaks add $2,000+ to average tickets. The installers generating serious revenue know this - C7s turn basic roofline jobs into complete property transformations. Commercial grade handles -40°F to 140°F, eliminating weather-related callbacks that kill profits.

5mm Wide-Angle Mini Lights - The Add-On Goldmine

Tree wrapping with mini lights is where smart installers boost tickets. The math that built millions: Using 6-inch spacing between wraps, charging $30-60 per foot of tree height. A single 20ft tree adds $600-1,200 to a job. Wide-angle 5mm LEDs with 120-degree spread create better coverage, allowing premium pricing. Commercial grade connects 45 strings - enough for multiple trees from one plug. This efficiency is why top installers can wrap multiple trees per day profitably.

Commercial Grade Makes the Difference

After handling thousands of light sets over the years, the difference between commercial and retail is obvious the moment you pick them up. Commercial grade uses 18-gauge wire that stays flexible even in freezing temperatures, while retail 22-gauge wire gets brittle and cracks. The sockets are sealed to IP67 standards, keeping water out completely - not just "weather resistant" like retail claims. UV-resistant materials mean the colors stay vibrant and the plastic doesn't turn brittle after a season in the sun. Commercial grade construction is built for professional installers who need products that survive multiple seasons of installation and removal without failing.

Installation Essentials That Matter

The right clips make or break a professional installation. The best option is the enclosed clip - the plastic lasts forever without getting brittle or breaking after a season or two. We also stock shingle tabs for roofs, gutter clips, and parapet clips for flat surfaces because every install is different. Never use staples or nails - I've seen too many dangerous situations from damaged wire.

For wire and components, we use SPT-1 and SPT-2 depending on the application. Having bulk wire plus male and female plugs, vampire plugs, and splices lets you solve any problem on-site. Nothing worse than driving back to the shop for a simple connector.

Timers and controllers are callback prevention. Digital timers mean lights turn on and off automatically. When customers don't have to think about their lights, they don't call you.

Permanent Christmas Lighting - The Future

Permanent systems are changing everything in this industry. You install once and customers get lighting year-round - Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, or just accent lighting any night they want. The systems come in 24V or 36V options - both work for residential and commercial. The difference is run length: 24V handles 100 feet per line while 36V handles 200 feet per line. That extra length with 36V means fewer power supplies on large properties, saving installation time and equipment costs. All app-controlled with millions of colors plus warm and cool white. Customers love that they never need ladders again after the initial install. I've watched this grow from a small niche to a major part of the industry, and the installers adding permanent lighting are seeing massive growth in their businesses. This is where the next $50 million in revenue will come from.

RGBW Smart Lights - One Installation, Every Holiday

RGBW smart lights are the perfect solution for customers who want Halloween and Christmas without climbing ladders twice. Install them once in October for Halloween with oranges, purples, and spooky effects, then simply change the colors to red, green, and white for Christmas through the app. No taking down and rehanging different lights. These work as temporary seasonal installations or can be mounted permanently for year-round use. The RGBW technology gives you millions of colors plus true warm and cool white - not the bluish white you get from RGB-only systems. Smart control means scheduling, dimming, effects, and instant color changes from your phone. We're seeing huge demand from customers who want the convenience of permanent mounting with seasonal flexibility. Install once, celebrate everything.