Christmas is ubiquitous. The holiday spirit isn't confined to your home. During the festive season, you sense the Christmas cheer constantly and anywhere you go. So does everyone else.
As people venture out during the festive period, they anticipate seeing numerous spectacular Christmas light displays – not just in residential areas but everywhere.
That's why your business should join in the Christmas festivities. It's anticipated. It's valued. And embellishing your business for Christmas can greatly benefit your enterprise. Your commercial holiday decorations can enhance customer goodwill and boost foot traffic to your location.
And it need not be a vast, intricate display. One of the most effective ways to adorn a commercial building for Christmas is with a straightforward yet sophisticated outline of C9 lights. It's simple to execute and creates a striking visual impact.
If you're planning to decorate your commercial building with C9 lights this festive season, here are some tips for an easy installation that ensures a professional appearance:
Tip #1: Utilize Empty Socket Light Line
Crafting your C9 light strands from an empty socket light line is the optimal method. You can buy empty socket light lines in rolls of 500 or 1,000 feet, or in smaller lengths of 50, 100, and 250 feet.
You'll be able to create customized light strands of any required length. Simply measure and cut the empty socket line, attach the electrical plugs, and screw in the C9 bulbs.
This method ensures a professional-looking installation because each strand will be the perfect length. Using an empty socket light line also provides greater flexibility in selecting various bulb spacings.
Tip #2: Spacing
C9 bulbs are sizable. Thus, you need to be mindful of the bulb spacing for your light strands. Typically, a spacing of at least 9″ or 12″ is ideal.
If you're adorning a multi-story building, remember that the higher the elevation, the closer the lights appear from the ground. Thus, for each additional story in height, you can slightly increase the bulb spacing without diminishing the visual effect.
Tip #3: Attachment Techniques
There is an extensive range of clips and hardware available to secure light strands to your building's perimeter. For each location and type of material you need to affix light strands to, there's a suitable attachment clip.
It's advisable to use only commercial-grade clips. Additionally, use one clip per bulb socket, even with close bulb spacing.
If you are new to installing light strands, spend time reviewing our comprehensive guide to lighting clips and hardware. This resource will provide guidance on securing your light strands to any type of material and structure.
Tip #4: Electrical Considerations
If you're using an empty socket light line to create custom lines (highly recommended), you'll need to install electrical fittings for each line. Don't worry – it's straightforward. The plugs simply slide on without tools. For assistance, refer to our online illustrated tutorial.
Additionally, ensure that each line doesn't consume excessive electrical current. For C9 bulb light strands, we generally advise against exceeding 500 bulbs on a single cord or 300′ of cord, depending on which limit you meet first due to spacing. (Most installations won't approach this maximum.)
Tip #5: Creative Color Choices
Perimeter lighting displays consisting of a single color can yield mixed reactions. For some, it may create a powerful visual impact, while others may find it monotonous.
However, C9 bulbs come in a vast array of colors. So, apply creativity to your color selections for your perimeter light strands. Here are some simple suggestions:
- Candy Cane Strands: Nothing screams Christmas like a candy cane. Consider lighting up your building with candy cane colors by using alternating red and white bulbs.
- A Classic Look: Achieve a traditional appearance by opting for the primary Christmas colors of red and green.
- Christmas Tree Style: Most Christmas trees are decorated with multicolored lights. This same approach can work remarkably well for commercial building perimeter lighting.
The Ultimate and Most Crucial Tip…
Be selective about where you purchase your lights and installation materials. Avoid big-box stores and mass retailers that sell cheaply made products. The initial savings could end up costing you more in the long run.
Investing in professional-grade C9 lights from a specialty retailer will be more expensive initially. However, your lights will perform better and last longer. Simply put, purchasing high-quality lights from a specialty store is a sound business investment.
Related Posts
