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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
I love Christmas time. I love the reason we celebrate. I love the opportunity to give, and yes, to receive gifts. But what I really enjoy is seeing how our cities and neighborhoods come alive with beautiful lights and decorations.
Brite Nites is a company that makes our homes and buildings look spectacular and festive during this holiday season. I enjoyed having lunch with Dean Lyons, the president of Brite Nites. He told me the fascinating story of how this company began.
Dean grew up in Calgary, Canada, but came to Utah as a BYU student. While in college, he worked construction to generate some income. One day as Dean was hauling some boards up a ladder at a construction site, a neighbor called to him and asked if would mind bringing the ladder over and pulling some Christmas lights off his house.
It only took Dean a few minutes to accomplish the task, and the gentleman gave him a $50 bill for his work. "Wow! That was easy," Dean thought. "Maybe this is a better way to make some part-time money than working construction."
Dean produced his own flyers and distributed them to the biggest residences he could find in Utah County. Soon the calls started. Dean bought a yellow Jeep and two ladders. He gained experience and soon became an expert in not only installing but in designing and creating beautiful Christmas lights and displays on more and more Wasatch Front and Park City homes.
Today, 12 years later, Dean and his crew of 40 to 50 employees begin decorating homes in September. They work 14-hour days, six days a week. That little Jeep has been joined by 12 trucks, 100 ladders, and sophisticated lift and hoist equipment.
After the holidays, Brite Nites removes the lights, stores them until next season and then installs them again. Customers can lease the lights and from Dean's inventory can even change colors or design approaches for the next season.
Thanks, Brite Nites, for making our communities so bright and festive!
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
