Festive Lights have that ‘Twinkly’ Feeling

Ji BRAND PROFILE Festive Lights

Festive Lights have that Twinkly feeling

One of the success stories in Christmas lighting is that of Festive Lights and their ‘Twinkly brand. So it was that I headed my car up the M1 and then M6 to meet Matt Higginson at the company’s Wigan warehouse.

I must confess that it was my first visit to Wigan, it was whilst there on a business trip, Mark’s but once at the warehouse it was indeed a trip curiosity led him to the World trade show well worthwhile making. where he discovered Christmas lighting. With

First and foremost, Festive is very much a a 15-year background retailing cut trees from family success story now in its 22nd year. Founder his self-made tree farm, the prospect of selling Mark Higginson along with his wife Margaret Christmas lighting wasn’t totally alien to the established the company in the family’s home village of Charnock “The company truly family. With retail space available in his then recently acquired Richard, near Chorley. It is a brilliant story that I’m are a family business. office, Mark decided to order a container for the approaching sure that Mark never envisaged No less than four millennium and on his return growing to include a 90,000sq. ft. warehouse plus a very siblings Matt, Mark opened a Christmas shop. The lighting store proved very healthy turnover of over £20 million. Originally a Forester, junior, Martin and popular in the area and grew to be the regions ‘go too’ specialists Mark’s car was stolen in the late Michelle along with and solidifying Festive lights LTD 80’s, so he decided to invent a security device to ensure it Michelle’s husband in 2004. The company truly are a never happened again. Matt Stephen make up a family business. No less than showed me this very clever four siblings Matt, Mark junior, device in bright yellow that 7-member board of Martin and Michelle along with fits snugly around the steering wheel with a lock system that directors” Michelle’s husband Stephen make up a 7-member board of makes it impossible to remove. The Disklok directors with each responsible for a key sector is still the strongest security lock in its class within the company. and the ethos of ‘building the best’ is carried Along with Steve, Matt showed me the very throughout the group. efficient picking and packaging system that

With manufacturing relocated to Taiwan, ensured not only Festive products, but also a

From Left to right

Stephen Alty (Company Director) Michelle Alty (HR Director) Mark Higginson (Managing Director) Margaret Higginson (Managing Director) Matt Higginson (Commercial Sales Director) Martin Higginson (Marketing Director) Mark Higginson (Purchasing Director)

number of third-party companies. Along with over 100 fulfilment clients, their distribution centre is capable of dispatching 5000+ orders every day and operates at this level for the 8 weeks run up to Christmas. A new 8,000sq.ft dispatch extension with 3 loading bays had just been opened, further enhancing the company’s efficiency, turnaround times and growth demands.

During the three-month pre-Christmas period, Festives’ employees swell to over 100

staff to cope with increased order processing in their distribution center. During my guided tour, there was an obvious feel-good atmosphere amongst the staff and I got the feeling the family have developed a critical mutual respect which breeds achievement.

Having completed the tour, I then followed Matt to the company’s showroom in Chorley, which I found to be just a few miles from Wigan. Standing out in the total darkness, Disklok House provided the perfect showroom to illustrate the Festive collection of Lighting.

With the impressive sell-through of the Christmas lighting in their shop, it wasn’t long before Mark Higginson was importing in volume and supplying to wholesale and e-commerce accounts, major electrical wholesalers very soon became regular customers.

Festive Lights are a totally rounded lighting company selling not only to retail customers, but to the event, leisure, hospitality and professional installation outfits.

Having built up an enviable market share with their Connect Pro, Connect Go and Festoon Pro, Festive were able to secure the distribution rights in 2018 for the U.K. for the Italian created ‘Twinkly’ lighting system controlled by an app on your smart phone. Against several other companies vying for the U.K. distribution rights, ‘Twinkly’ chose Festive to be their U.K. distributor as the best fit to nurture the brand in multiple channels and sectors.

Until then America were the main beneficiaries of the technology and in the U.K. only John Lewis retailed the range. Twinkly lighting offers an infinite number of effects controlled from a very sophisticated app, that truly needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. The effects are dazzling with 2021 sales proving what a fabulous system this is, at home and on the high street.

Festive for Business

Connect Pro – uses just one power point to a maximum of 7600 LEDs thanks to mains voltage, the system adapts each year to follow market demands to current needs in the professional and retail sector. This system has just won the Which? Best buy award 2021.

Festoon Pro – Again uses just one mains voltage power source and is connectable based so a customized length and bulb type can be tailored to individual spaces and demands commercially.

Connect Go – Similar to Connect Pro, it’s their most diverse system, but on a safer low voltage for the domestic and semi-professional market. Can be powered by plug, battery or solar with multi-function and timer options.

For any buyer looking to invest in premium Christmas or seasonal lighting, be it in retail, hospitality or commercial lighting, Festive have each sector fully covered. They carry stock year-round and can work with bulk forward ordering too.

You can obtain full details via their website – www.business.festivelights.com or www.twinkly.com

Twinkly Pro

Working with commercial installation partners that Festive have chosen very carefully for their various skillsets, Twinkly Pro can be seen at a number of sites nationwide that include a 36ft Christmas tree installed outside Manchester City football club. Other locations include Liverpool F.C., John Lewis (Oxford Street), town center’s such as Middlesbrough, Plymouth and Watford plus over 20 Garden Centre’s to name a few.

The company’s stand at Spring Fair will be split between both the Retail and Commercial offerings for both Festive brands and Twinkly Retail and Pro.

Many retailers have invested in Twinkly PRO for their outdoor WOW displays, then presented the retail range indoors for consumers to replicate in their own homes – a revolution in the making!