Professional-Grade Wires and Plugs
for Custom Lighting Solutions
Welcome to our comprehensive collection of high-quality wires and plugs, designed to empower both professional installers and passionate DIY enthusiasts. These essential components form the foundation of any exceptional lighting display, offering the versatility and durability needed to bring your creative visions to life. From bulk spools of SPT-1 and SPT-2 wire to weather-resistant Gilbert plugs and convenient end caps, our range caters to all your custom lighting needs. Whether you're crafting intricate holiday displays, enhancing landscape lighting, or tackling large-scale commercial projects, our professional-grade wires and plugs ensure reliable performance and seamless integration. Explore our selection and discover the perfect electrical components to elevate your lighting installations, combining safety, efficiency, and aesthetic appeal in every project.
250' Zip Cord (SPT-1)
Enhance your lighting installations with our versatile 250' Spool of Lamp Cord SPT-1 Extension Wire (Zip Cord), perfect for both professional and DIY decorators. This 18-gauge, 2-conductor wire, rated for 8 amps or 960 watts, allows you to easily create custom extension cords, add jumper wires, or extend C9 and C7 stringers for rooflines and holiday displays. Its durable design suits both indoor and outdoor applications, offering reliable performance for small to large-scale projects. Available in Green, White, Brown, and Black, this easy-to-work-with zip cord provides the flexibility and durability needed for creating custom lighting solutions in any setting.
500' Green Zip Cord (SPT-1)
Our 500' Spool of Green Lamp Cord SPT-1 Extension Wire (Zip Cord) offers versatile solutions for custom lighting setups. This 18-gauge, 2-conductor wire, rated at 8 Amps or 960 Watts, is perfect for creating personalized extension cords, adding jumper wires to rooflines, or extending C9 and C7 stringers. Compatible with our SPT-1 male and female plugs (sold separately), this durable wire is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Whether you're a professional installer or a DIY enthusiast, this 500' spool provides ample length for various lighting projects, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in your custom lighting designs.
1000' Green Zip Cord (SPT-1)
Our 1000' Spool of Green Lamp Cord SPT-1 Extension Wire (Zip Cord) is a high-quality, 18-gauge, 2-conductor wire is perfect for creating custom extension cords, adding jumper wires to rooflines, or extending C9 and C7 stringers. Rated for 8 amps or 960 watts, it offers reliable performance for both residential and commercial projects. The green color blends seamlessly with outdoor foliage and durable design suits both indoor and outdoor use. Ideal for professional installers and DIY enthusiasts alike, this generous 1000' spool provides ample wire for customization, ensuring you have the right length for any project.
Male Gilbert Plugs SPT-1
Enhance your custom Christmas lighting projects with our SPT-1 Gilbert Male Zip Plugs, available in green, white, brown, and black. These high-quality, weather-resistant plugs are specifically designed for use with SPT-1 zip cord, making them ideal for creating custom light strings and extension cords. Featuring a 2-prong polarized design for safety and stability, these plugs are constructed from heavy-duty plastic to withstand harsh winter conditions. Unlike standard options, our male zip plugs resist bending or breaking in cold weather, ensuring straight and reliable prongs throughout the season. Perfect for both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts, these durable plugs are essential for creating long-lasting, custom Christmas light displays that perform flawlessly in any environment.
Female Gilbert Plugs SPT-1
(with Knockout Tab)
Elevate your custom Christmas lighting projects with our Female Gilbert SPT-1 Zip Plugs featuring a knockout tab, available in green, white, brown, and black. Specifically designed for SPT-1 zip cord, these durable plugs are ideal for creating reliable custom light strings and extension cords. The 2-prong polarized design ensures secure connections, while the heavy-duty plastic construction withstands harsh outdoor conditions. Unlike standard options, these plugs resist bending in cold weather, making them perfect for winter installations. Whether you're connecting light strands end-to-end or crafting custom extensions, these resilient female zip plugs offer superior performance for both professional and DIY Christmas lighting setups.
Gilbert ONE Plugs SPT-1
(with Knockout Tab)
Simplify your Christmas light installation with The One Plug, which connects two wires directly—no separate male and female plugs needed. This innovative design saves time, making your setup faster and more efficient. Built with durable plastic and sturdy prongs, it's designed to last throughout the season, ensuring reliability for any lighting project. Perfect for anyone looking to streamline their holiday light displays with ease and dependability.
250' Zip Cord (SPT-2)
This versatile 18-gauge, 2-conductor wire is engineered for both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts, offering the durability and flexibility needed for creating custom extension cords, adding jumper wires to rooflines, or extending C9 and C7 stringers. Rated for 8 amps or 960 watts, this robust SPT-2 wire ensures powerful and safe connections for all your lighting needs. Its weather-resistant properties make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, allowing you to bring your creative holiday lighting visions to life in any setting. Whether you're working on a small residential project or a large-scale commercial installation, our SPT-2 Extension Wire provides the reliability and performance required to create stunning, long-lasting Christmas light displays. Available in green, white, brown & black.
Male Plugs (SPT-2)
Elevate your custom lighting projects with our superior Male zip plugs, engineered for exceptional performance in even the harshest conditions. Unlike standard options, these plugs boast prongs that resist bending in cold weather, ensuring reliable connections throughout the winter season. Perfectly suited for creating custom Christmas light strings or tailored extension cords, these plugs attach effortlessly to the end of zip cord electrical wire. The green SPT-2 male zip plugs are specifically designed to complement green SPT-2 zip cord, offering a seamless and professional appearance. Featuring a 2-prong polarized design for safety and stability, these plugs are constructed from heavy-duty plastic to withstand the rigors of both indoor and outdoor use. Available in green and black.
Female Plugs
(with Knockout Tab (SPT-2)
Enhance your custom lighting projects with our premium Female Gilbert SPT-2 zip plugs, designed for superior performance in all weather conditions. Unlike standard options, these plugs feature prongs that maintain their integrity even in frigid temperatures, ensuring reliable connections throughout the winter season. Perfect for creating custom Christmas light stringers or bespoke extension cords, these versatile plugs attach effortlessly to zip cord wire, allowing you to connect strands end-to-end with ease. The white SPT-2 female zip plugs are specifically tailored to complement white SPT-2 zip cord electrical wire, providing a seamless and professional appearance. Equipped with a 2-prong polarized design for safety and stability, these plugs are constructed from heavy-duty plastic..
Male & Female Plugs
Elevate your custom lighting projects with our top-of-the-line Male & Female zip plugs, engineered for unparalleled performance in all weather conditions. Unlike standard options, these plugs feature prongs that resist bending even in frigid temperatures, ensuring reliable connections throughout the winter season. Perfect for crafting custom Christmas light stringers or bespoke extension cords, these versatile plugs attach seamlessly to zip cord wire, allowing for easy end-to-end strand connections. The black SPT-2 Male & Female zip plugs are specifically designed to complement black SPT-2 zip cord electrical wire, offering a sleek and professional appearance. Featuring a 2-prong polarized design for enhanced safety and stability, these plugs are constructed from heavy-duty plastic, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Gilbert One Plug SPT
The One Plug makes Christmas light installation a breeze by directly connecting two wires, eliminating the need for separate male and female plugs. Its efficient design saves time and speeds up your setup. Crafted from durable plastic with sturdy prongs, it's built to last all season, making it a dependable choice for any lighting project. Ideal for anyone wanting to simplify their holiday light displays with ease and confidence. Available in Green, White, Brown and Black
Wire Termination Cap
Enhance the safety and appearance of your lighting projects with our high-quality wire end caps, available in convenient bags of 10. These essential accessories are designed to protect the exposed ends of your wiring, preventing potential hazards and providing a clean, professional finish to your installations. Crafted from high-grade, durable materials, these end caps ensure long-lasting protection against moisture, dust, and accidental contact. Their user-friendly design allows for quick and easy application, making them ideal for both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts. Whether you're working on holiday lighting, landscape illumination, or any other wiring project, these end caps offer a simple yet effective solution for securing and safeguarding your wire ends, ensuring both safety and aesthetics in your electrical setups.
Gilbert One Plug
The One Plug makes Christmas light installation a breeze by directly connecting two wires, eliminating the need for separate male and female plugs. Its efficient design saves time and speeds up your setup. Crafted from durable plastic with sturdy prongs, it's built to last all season, making it a dependable choice for any lighting project. Ideal for anyone wanting to simplify their holiday light displays with ease and confidence. Available in Green, White, Brown and Black
What's the difference between SPT-1 and SPT-2 wire?
SPT-1 wire is thinner and more flexible, ideal for lighter-duty applications and tighter spaces. SPT-2 wire has thicker insulation, making it more durable and better suited for heavier-duty outdoor use and longer runs. Both are available for custom lighting projects, but SPT-2 is generally recommended for extensive outdoor installations.
Yes, our wires and plugs are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. They're constructed with weather-resistant materials to withstand various environmental conditions. However, always ensure proper installation and follow safety guidelines for outdoor electrical setups.
Choose wire and plug colors that match or complement your installation surface. Green wires blend well with foliage, white is great for light-colored surfaces, and black offers a sleek look against dark backgrounds. Matching colors also helps create a more professional, seamless appearance in your lighting display.
Gilbert plugs are known for their superior durability and cold weather performance. Unlike standard plugs, Gilbert plugs resist bending and breaking in low temperatures, making them ideal for outdoor winter installations. They also provide a more secure connection, reducing the risk of disconnection or electrical issues.
Our SPT-2 wire is typically rated for 8 amps or 960 watts. The number of lights you can safely connect depends on the wattage of your bulbs. For example, using 5-watt bulbs, you could connect up to 192 lights. Always check the wattage of your specific bulbs and never exceed the wire's rated capacity to ensure safety.
Starting a Christmas lighting business might seem like a seasonal side hustle, but industry veterans are proving it can become a substantial year-round enterprise. Successful entrepreneurs in this field are generating six-figure revenues and beyond by following proven strategies and avoiding common pitfalls that trap most contractors in low-profit cycles.
One of the biggest mistakes new business owners make is failing to understand what it actually costs to run their business. Too many entrepreneurs look at a $500 job that took two hours and think they've made easy money, completely forgetting about the hidden costs that eat into profits.
Every job requires significant investment that goes far beyond direct labor and materials. This includes advertising expenses to generate leads, the time spent working inside the business outside of billable hours, fuel costs, insurance premiums, and taxes. Many business owners overlook these crucial expenses, leading to pricing that's unsustainable in the long run.
A perfect example of this miscalculation involves a young contractor who claimed to make $600 profit on a $2,000 concrete job after paying for materials and labor. However, this contractor failed to account for insurance, taxes, advertising costs, contract negotiation time, and numerous other business expenses that would have significantly reduced or eliminated his actual profit.
Understanding these hidden costs is crucial because they often represent 30-50% of your total business expenses. Without factoring them into your pricing, you're essentially working for free or even losing money on each job.
Many Christmas lighting contractors struggle with charging premium prices, often because they're focused on what competitors charge rather than the value they provide. Successful contractors charge $7-10 per foot even when local competitors charge significantly less, with some advertising basic $300 installations.
The key to commanding higher prices isn't about ignoring the competition—it's about providing superior value. Most contractors can't command premium prices because they're not worth it. The quality of their product, service, delivery, and installation doesn't justify higher pricing.
Instead of competing on price, focus on becoming an expert in your field. Don't follow the same path everyone else has taken. Create value through superior customer service, better designs, higher quality installations, and professional marketing materials. When you consistently deliver more value than competitors, premium pricing becomes justified and sustainable.
Successful Christmas lighting businesses routinely achieve $2,000 to $3,000 average tickets, with some reaching $5,000 in certain markets. Industry leaders maintain close to $3,000 average tickets, while businesses in premium markets like Florida achieve $5,000 averages.
This isn't about overcharging—it's about understanding the true value proposition. For many clients, a $2,000 Christmas lighting installation represents an investment in family memories, safety (avoiding dangerous ladder work), and convenience that's easily justified when positioned correctly.
The difference between a $400 average ticket and a $2,000 average ticket isn't just pricing—it's an entirely different business model. Higher-ticket businesses can afford better marketing, superior customer service, and more systematic operations that create sustainable competitive advantages.
Many successful contractors started by basing their pricing on competitors rather than value. This approach initially seems logical but creates fundamental problems. When you provide superior service—better customer service, higher quality designs, better delivery, and superior marketing materials—while charging the same prices as inferior competitors, you're actually losing money.
The transformation comes when contractors realize they don't always have to break a sweat or strain their backs to accomplish great things in business. While physical work has its place, focusing on specific areas of the business and being intentional about activities creates much better results than trying to do everything yourself.
This mindset shift extends to employee compensation. Many contractors think they can't pay employees well because they themselves aren't making much money. However, when you build proper systems and remove yourself from day-to-day operations, you can often pay employees more than you made when working in the business yourself.
One of the most challenging but necessary transitions for any service business owner is moving from technician to business owner. Staying on the truck (doing the installations yourself) limits your business to a $20-30 per hour value, regardless of what you charge customers.
This transition requires both mindset shifts and systematic approaches. You must believe that others can do the work effectively, and you must create systems that enable consistent quality without your direct involvement.
The urgency of this transition becomes clear when you consider what happens if you get injured. Many contractors have seen their businesses collapse when the owner couldn't perform the work due to injury. Building a business that can operate without you isn't just about growth—it's about sustainability and risk management.
Most entrepreneurs start businesses because they're hard workers, but this strength can become a weakness if it prevents them from building scalable systems. The goal should be to work on your business, not just in it.
Creating scalable systems involves more than just hiring people—it requires documented processes, training materials, and quality control measures. Successful contractors create extensive video libraries showing proper installation techniques, compiled from various training sources and internal expertise.
These systems enable business owners to maintain quality standards while removing themselves from day-to-day operations. More importantly, they allow employees to become better at specialized roles than the owner ever was, since they can focus entirely on their specific area of expertise.
Effective systems include written procedures, video training materials, quality checklists, and clear accountability measures. Without these elements, attempts to scale typically result in quality problems and customer dissatisfaction.
The key is understanding that if you don't have systems and checklists, you can't effectively evaluate whether work is being done correctly. Systems create the foundation for consistent quality and profitable growth.
When discussing marketing strategies, yard signs emerge as the standout performer for Christmas lighting businesses. Despite the digital marketing boom, yard signs remain some of the cheapest and most effective advertising possible for local service businesses.
The key to effective yard sign marketing lies in design and placement. Avoid overly complicated designs with too much information. Instead, focus on what you do and how to contact you. Place signs in areas where your ideal customers shop and live, not just anywhere that allows signage.
Design matters significantly. Most people complicate yard signs by including too much information. Generally speaking, it doesn't matter if your logo or name is prominently featured—focus on the service you provide and how to contact you. Keep the message simple and clear.
Digital marketing, including Facebook and Google ads, can supplement yard signs effectively, but the tried-and-true method of yard signs consistently delivers strong results for this industry. The average person sees a yard sign for only three seconds, so your message must be immediately clear and memorable.
Permanent lighting represents an emerging market segment worth considering. While traditional Christmas lights remain preferred for residential holiday installations, permanent lights offer significant opportunities, particularly in commercial applications.
Commercial clients want competitive advantages, and permanent lighting systems allow businesses to differentiate themselves year-round while providing architectural enhancement and security benefits beyond seasonal decoration.
However, quality concerns with some permanent lighting products have created opportunities for contractors who can deliver superior installations and customer service. Some early permanent lighting systems have developed quality issues, turning blue or failing partially, which creates selling opportunities for contractors offering better solutions.
For residential applications, permanent lighting adoption varies significantly by market. Some areas like Utah show high adoption rates with multiple permanent lighting installations visible on every street, while other markets show much slower adoption.
Successful contractors consistently invest in education and surround themselves with other successful people. The mindset shift happens naturally when you interact with people operating at higher levels than your current situation.
This principle extends to investing in training and professional development. Contractors who achieve significant success typically participate in industry training events where they can learn installation techniques, business systems, marketing strategies, and network with successful peers.
The networking aspect often proves more valuable than the formal training content. The knowledge shared during informal interactions and dinner conversations can be worth exponentially more than the cost of attending educational events.
However, simply attending training isn't enough. You must also buy your own product to truly understand the value you're providing. Many contractors struggle to sell premium services because they don't personally experience what their customers receive. When you invest in your own product, you naturally become more confident in its value.
When other contractors in your market charge significantly less, you must overcome pricing objections through superior marketing and positioning. You'll need to out-market competitors and position yourself with the right customers who value quality over price.
This requires understanding your ideal customer. Not everyone needs Christmas lights, and more importantly, not everyone is your ideal client. HVAC contractors might be able to place signs anywhere since everyone needs heating and cooling, but Christmas lighting requires more targeted positioning.
Focus on customers who value the experience, convenience, and quality you provide. These customers exist in every market—you just need to reach them effectively and communicate your value proposition clearly.
Knowledge without action produces no results. Many people attend training events and read educational content but fail to implement what they learn. Success requires taking concrete steps to apply new knowledge consistently.
The Christmas lighting industry provides inspiring examples of contractors who started with limited resources but achieved remarkable success through proper education, systems, and execution. Age and circumstances don't determine success—action and proper guidance do.
Building a successful Christmas lighting business requires more than just knowing how to hang lights. It demands understanding true business costs, developing the right mindset, creating scalable systems, and consistently taking action. The businesses that achieve $2,000+ average tickets and six-figure revenues have mastered these fundamentals while maintaining focus on delivering exceptional value to their customers.
Success in this industry comes down to treating it as a real business, not a seasonal side hustle. This means proper pricing, professional systems, effective marketing, and a commitment to continuous improvement and growth.
Successful Christmas lighting businesses typically achieve $2,000 to $3,000 average tickets, with some markets supporting $5,000+ averages. The key is focusing on value rather than just competing on price. Your average ticket should reflect the true cost of doing business plus appropriate profit margins.
Justify premium pricing through superior quality, service, and value delivery. Focus on being the best at what you do rather than the cheapest. Ensure your customer service, installation quality, design capabilities, and overall experience exceed what lower-priced competitors offer.
You should transition off the truck as early as possible. Doing installations yourself limits your business to $20-30 per hour value regardless of what you charge. The sooner you build systems and train others, the faster you can scale. Consider what happens to your business if you get injured and can't work.
Hidden costs include advertising and lead generation expenses, insurance, taxes, fuel, equipment maintenance, time spent on non-billable activities (quotes, scheduling, bookkeeping), workers' compensation, and vehicle expenses. Many contractors only consider direct labor and materials, which leads to unsustainable pricing.
Yard signs consistently outperform other marketing methods for Christmas lighting businesses. They're cost-effective, target the right geographic areas, and create immediate local awareness. The key is good design (simple, clear messaging) and strategic placement in areas where your ideal customers live and shop.
Permanent lighting can be profitable, especially for commercial clients who want year-round architectural lighting and security benefits. However, focus on quality products and installation since some early permanent lighting systems have created quality concerns in the market.
Shift your mindset by understanding your customers' perspective. A $2,000 investment in Christmas lighting provides family memories, safety (avoiding dangerous ladder work), and convenience. For many customers, this represents significant value. Also, surround yourself with other successful contractors who charge premium prices.
The biggest mistake is basing pricing on competitors rather than understanding true business costs and value provided. This leads to unsustainable pricing that prevents business growth and profitability. Another major mistake is trying to do everything themselves instead of building scalable systems.
Networking and education are crucial for success. Surrounding yourself with successful contractors naturally shifts your mindset and provides valuable insights. The informal knowledge sharing that happens during networking often proves more valuable than formal training content.
It's not too late. Many successful contractors have started as late as Halloween weekend and still achieved $30,000+ in their first year, then grown to six figures the following year. Success depends more on proper education, systems, and execution than timing, though earlier preparation allows for better marketing and customer acquisition.
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