How Christmas Decor Has Been Lighting Up New Lenox for Over 23 Years

In 1991, Gary Fouts started a local lawn maintenance business in New Lenox, Illinois. But when there wasn’t a lot of snow, there wasn’t a lot of work beyond November. With that in mind, he started searching for another business opportunity. When he learned about Christmas Decor*,  the 300-plus unit strong holiday decorating franchise, it seemed like the perfect fit. 

Fouts opened New Lenox’s Christmas Decor for business in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since. As the business continues to grow, the entrepreneur has not only been able to bring more jobs to his community, but Fouts has also been able to deliver the holiday cheer that he has come to know and love. 

1851 Franchise spoke to Fouts about his franchising journey with Christmas Decor. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Fouts: I started a lawn maintenance business in 1991. If there wasn’t a good snow year, we were always running into the issue of not having much work through the winter. Because we're in Illinois, the grass stops growing in October or November. I needed to find something to keep full-time workers year round. In 1999, I was at a show in Chicago at Navy Pier and ran into the Christmas Decor franchise team. After talking to the team, we took a leap of faith and joined the company and haven't looked back since.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Fouts: I had never looked into it. I didn't know what the franchise system was. But I thought I would be good at following a plan, and franchises already have a working plan. I was able to learn quickly with Christmas Decor’s help. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Fouts: Back in 1999, they were pretty much the only brand on the market doing this. They are the best, and they teach you how to be perceived as the best. You still have to do the work to become successful, but they gave you the tools to do so. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Fouts: Since 1999, there have been very few years that I have not grown. My potential for growing is based on my labor force. The need is out there, and I want to continue finding the people to grow and work together. . 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know? 

Fouts: We do lawn maintenance. But I've never really heard my guys talking about how they’re going to take their family by to show straight lines [from mowed grass]. But I do hear them say how they’re going to take them by to see houses we do for Christmas. I think it's a great break for them to get out of the monotony of lawn mowing and fertilizer. It’s something they can take pride in. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Fouts: Just do it. Royalties also mean that you have full-time marketing programs and warehouse teams. It's a pretty small investment with high returns. 

About Christmas Decor 

Founded in 1986 by Blake Smith, Christmas Decor has become the leading holiday decorating brand in the U.S. and Canada. Originally created as an off-season supplement to the landscaping business, the Texas-based franchise now brings holiday cheer to over 300 communities across North America, ultimately creating jobs for 3,000-plus seasonal workers that might otherwise be unemployed. Backed by a strong business model and double-digit revenue increase year-over-year for the last 11 years, Christmas Decor is looking to grow in markets across the U.S. and Canada. For more information on Christmas Decor, please visit christmasdecor.net/franchise.

About The Decor Group

The Decor Group launched in 1996 out of Lubbock, Texas and has grown to international success in the holiday decorating and landscape lighting space. The Decor Group is composed of four uniquely positioned entities, including Christmas Decor Inc., NiteTime Decor, Barcana and PermaLites365. The Decor Group, along with its national network of franchised service providers, is dedicated to providing premium quality products, and committed to constant and never-ending improvement in everything they do every day. Visit thedecorgroup.com for more information.