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.

SPT 1 Wire & Plugs

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.

SPT 2 Wires & Plugs

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

10 Pack (SPT-2)

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

Misc

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Can I use these wires and plugs for both indoor and outdoor lighting projects?

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.

How do I choose the right color of wire and plugs for my project?

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.

What's the advantage of using Gilbert plugs over standard plugs?

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.

How many lights can I safely connect using your SPT-2 wire?

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.

Discover Expert Tips on Our Blog

Christmas light installation business

Struggling to Grow? Here’s What’s Holding Your Business Back!

March 03, 202510 min read

In the competitive world of Christmas lights installation, many entrepreneurs find themselves struggling to grow beyond a certain point. Some installers reach $50,000 in their first season and plateau, while others push to $150,000, $500,000, or even seven figures. The difference isn't luck or market size—it's focus. The principle that "what you water grows" is fundamental to building a Christmas lights business that can scale to impressive heights.

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The Danger of Off-Season Diversification

As Christmas light installers, we face a unique challenge: the seasonal nature of our business. When January rolls around and the last lights come down, there's a natural temptation to immediately pivot to other services—pressure washing, landscape lighting, gutter cleaning—to maintain income throughout the year.

While diversification seems logical, it often leads to scattered focus. When you divide your attention between multiple service lines, none receives the concentrated energy needed to truly flourish. Just like dividing a gallon of water among ten plants instead of focusing it on one or two, your growth becomes stunted across all ventures.

Many of the most successful Christmas lights businesses have grown to seven figures by focusing intensely on Christmas lights year-round—not just during installation season.

The Year-Round Christmas Lights Business

Despite being a seasonal service, successful Christmas light installation businesses operate on a 12-month cycle:

  • January-February: Takedowns, inventory management, and beginning early commercial outreach

  • March-May: Active commercial client acquisition, HOA presentations, and system refinement

  • June-August: Residential pre-booking, staff recruitment, and inventory ordering

  • September-November: Installation season preparation, marketing execution, and hiring completion

  • November-December: Peak installation season

  • Year-round: Building relationships, refining systems, and planning growth

By treating Christmas lights as a year-round business rather than a seasonal side gig, you can develop the focus needed to scale beyond what most installers ever achieve.

Commercial Accounts: The Foundation of Scale

Residential installations can form the backbone of a starting Christmas lights business, but commercial accounts are typically the key to achieving substantial scale. HOAs, shopping centers, office complexes, and municipalities offer several advantages:

  1. Larger contract values ($10,000-$100,000+ per season)

  2. Earlier commitment (often booking 6-9 months in advance)

  3. Multi-year potential with annual renewals

  4. Less price sensitivity than residential customers

  5. Fewer decision-makers to manage (one property manager vs. dozens of homeowners)

Securing these accounts requires persistent effort. Successful installers often report making 15-25 outreach calls daily for weeks or months before landing significant commercial accounts. This persistence separates those who scale to six and seven figures from those who remain small.

The most effective approach is simple but demanding: identify potential commercial clients, make consistent contact through calls and emails, build relationships rather than pushing for immediate sales, and follow up persistently until you secure the opportunity to bid.

Commercial Christmas Lights business

The Power of Getting Off the Roof

A critical milestone in scaling any Christmas lights business is transitioning from installer to business owner. Many entrepreneurs hit an income ceiling because they're trapped performing $20-30 per hour installation tasks instead of focusing on $100-1000 per hour business development activities.

To grow beyond a one-crew operation, you must:

  1. Hire and train reliable installation teams

  2. Develop precise installation systems that maintain quality without your presence

  3. Focus your time on sales, marketing, and commercial relationship building

  4. Leverage your unique expertise for business growth rather than daily installation

This transition isn't easy—it requires overcoming fears about quality control and developing trust in your team. For many installers, the second season becomes the proving ground for this transition, allowing them to scale significantly in their third year.

Pricing for Profitability and Growth

One of the most common limitations to growth is inadequate pricing. Many Christmas lights installers undervalue their services, failing to account for the true costs of:

  • Equipment depreciation

  • Off-season business development

  • Takedown labor and logistics

  • Storage costs throughout the year

  • Warranty service and bulb replacements

  • Your time as the business owner and manager

Successful installers typically charge a minimum of $10 per foot for residential installations, with commercial pricing structured strategically based on scope and complexity. Remember that proper pricing:

  1. Attracts quality clients who value professional service

  2. Provides the capital needed to invest in growth

  3. Allows you to hire and retain excellent staff

  4. Funds your marketing and business development

Underpricing creates the illusion of success during installation season, but the reality becomes clear during takedown and off-season when cash flow tightens. Price appropriately from the beginning to fund sustainable growth.

Marketing with Precision and Persistence

Effective marketing for Christmas lights installation requires both precision and persistence. Rather than scattering efforts across numerous channels, successful businesses typically:

  1. Identify 2-3 marketing methods that work in their specific market

  2. Track results meticulously to understand return on investment

  3. Scale successful channels aggressively rather than constantly switching tactics

  4. Begin marketing campaigns months before the competition

For residential clients, this might include strategic yard signs with tracking numbers, targeted social media advertising, and proactive outreach to past clients. For commercial accounts, it typically involves direct outreach, relationship building with property managers, and strategic networking.

Whatever marketing approaches you choose, commit to them fully rather than abandoning them prematurely when instant results don't materialize. Marketing momentum builds over time, and consistency often determines success.

Christmas lights installation

Systems: The Foundation for Scaling

As your Christmas lights business grows beyond what you can personally oversee, systems become your critical path to success. These include:

  • Lead qualification: Efficiently identifying which prospects match your ideal client profile

  • Estimation: Standardized pricing and bidding processes that ensure profitability

  • Installation protocols: Step-by-step methods ensuring consistent quality across crews

  • Inventory management: Tracking materials, ordering efficiently, and minimizing waste

  • Client communication: Standard procedures for initial contact, installation day, and follow-up

  • Takedown coordination: Organized scheduling and execution of removals

  • Storage systems: Proper labeling, organization, and maintenance during off-season

  • Commercial relationship management: Structured follow-up and communication throughout the year

Without these systems, growth becomes chaotic and ultimately unsustainable. With them, you create a business that can scale predictably while maintaining quality and profitability.

Building the Right Team

Your ability to scale ultimately depends on building a reliable team. For Christmas lights installation, this presents unique challenges due to the seasonal nature of the work. Successful businesses address this through:

  1. Partnering with complementary seasonal businesses: Finding workers whose primary jobs slow during winter (roofers, landscapers, etc.)

  2. Creating exceptional seasonal compensation: Offering premium pay for quality seasonal work

  3. Developing clear advancement paths: Showing ambitious team members how they can grow with your company

  4. Focusing on culture and work environment: Making your company the best place to work during the season

  5. Building year-round core staff: Keeping key team members engaged in off-season planning and preparation

The quality of your team will ultimately determine your capacity for growth, so invest accordingly in finding, training, and retaining excellent people.

Finding Your "Why" Beyond Profit

The most sustainable motivation for building a successful Christmas lights business isn't money alone. The seasonal demands are too intense and the work too challenging to be driven solely by profit.

Successful installers are typically motivated by:

  • Creating a magical experience for clients during the holiday season

  • Building something their family can be proud of

  • Providing exceptional seasonal opportunities for their team

  • Transforming their communities during the holidays

  • Creating freedom and opportunity for themselves through entrepreneurship

When you connect your daily business activities to this deeper purpose, you'll find the resilience needed to overcome challenges and the passion required to truly excel in this industry.

Your Path to Scale

The path to building a six or seven-figure Christmas lights installation business isn't mysterious or complex, but it does require focused effort:

  1. Treat Christmas lights as your primary business focus year-round

  2. Build systems that enable quality without your constant presence

  3. Transition from installer to business owner by getting off the roof

  4. Pursue commercial accounts with persistent, professional outreach

  5. Price appropriately to fund sustainable growth

  6. Market consistently with emphasis on tracking and scaling what works

  7. Build a reliable team with clear systems and expectations

  8. Connect your work to a deeper purpose that sustains your motivation

By applying these principles with disciplined focus—truly watering what you want to grow—you can build a Christmas lights installation business that provides not just seasonal income, but true prosperity and fulfillment.

Christmas lights installation

1. How can I operate a Christmas lights business year-round?

Answer: Divide your year into strategic phases: January-February for takedowns and inventory; March-May for commercial client acquisition; June-August for pre-booking and staff planning; September-October for final preparation; and November-December for installations. By maintaining this cycle, you'll build momentum year-round rather than starting from scratch each season.

2. When should I stop doing installations myself?

Answer: Begin transitioning off the roof during your first season and aim to be primarily in a management role by your second season. Your time is more valuable in sales and business development ($100-1000/hour) than in installation work ($20-30/hour). Hire and train reliable crew members so you can focus on growth activities that only you can perform.

3. How do I secure commercial Christmas lights accounts?

Answer: Start early—ideally 6-9 months before installation season. Identify potential clients (HOAs, shopping centers, office complexes), make 15-25 calls daily during your acquisition phase, and focus on relationship building. Prepare professional proposals with photos of your best work, and follow up consistently. Most competitors wait until September to begin outreach, giving you a significant advantage by starting in March.

4. What should I charge for Christmas lights installation?

Answer: Charge a minimum of $10 per foot for residential installations, with premium options at $12-15+ per foot. Commercial pricing should be strategic based on scope and complexity. Account for all costs: materials, installation labor, takedown labor, warranty service, storage, and management. Proper pricing attracts quality clients while providing capital for growth and profitability.

5. How do I build a reliable seasonal installation team?

Answer: Partner with workers from complementary seasonal businesses (roofers, landscapers) whose work slows in winter. Offer premium pay ($25-45/hour) to attract reliable workers. Create documented systems that make training efficient. Build a positive culture that makes your company the best seasonal workplace. Maintain communication with top performers year-round and offer early commitment bonuses for returning crew members.

Christmas lights installation

6. What are the most effective marketing strategies for Christmas lights?

Answer: Focus on 2-3 channels and execute them exceptionally well: yard signs at active installations (with tracking numbers), strategic social media advertising starting in September, early-bird promotions for returning clients, and direct outreach to high-end neighborhoods. For commercial clients, begin marketing 6-9 months before season; for residential, 2-3 months before. Track results meticulously to identify your most profitable marketing channels.

7. How do I manage inventory efficiently?

Answer: Develop detailed takedown protocols where each client's lights are labeled and inventoried. Create a standardized storage system organized by client or product type. Assess inventory post-season and order new materials by June-July to avoid supply chain issues. Maintain a 20-30% buffer beyond projected needs for growth opportunities and replacements. Conduct mid-season inventory checks to prevent shortages during peak installation periods.

8. When should I expand beyond Christmas lights?

Answer: Wait until your Christmas lights business reaches at least $500,000 in annual revenue with strong systems in place. You should have reliable management, documented procedures, healthy profit margins, and clear capacity to handle additional complexity. Many successful businesses add complementary services like permanent landscape lighting only after fully maximizing their core business. Adding services prematurely typically dilutes focus and stunts growth.

9. How do I handle seasonal cash flow challenges?

Answer: Structure pricing to include 50% deposits at booking. Secure commercial contracts 6-9 months in advance. Offer early booking incentives that generate summer revenue. Build a substantial cash reserve during peak season (25-30% of annual revenue). Create careful monthly budgets for off-season expenses. Aim to secure 40-50% of your annual revenue through deposits before installation season begins, and manage takedown timing to collect final payments before major expenses in January.

10. What systems are essential for scaling beyond the owner?

Answer: Develop and document systems for: lead qualification, estimation, installation protocols, quality control, client communication, crew management, takedown coordination, inventory management, storage, and commercial relationship management. Start by documenting one system at a time, beginning with whichever process currently causes the most bottlenecks. As you add team members, these documented systems ensure consistency and quality while reducing your personal involvement in daily operations.

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Jason Geiman

Jason Geiman parlayed his early passion for festive lighting into a thriving Christmas décor installation company which he founded and grew for over 4 years before selling the business in 2018. Now, he draws from his experience scaling a holiday lighting venture to help other Christmas lighting companies maximize their success. Jason feels compelled to share shortcuts he learned running his decoration operation. Jason has made it his mission to enable both residential and commercial clients to execute jaw-dropping lighting displays more easily. He loves experimenting with the latest high-tech LED bulb innovations to incorporate into his instructional programs and resources for those running their own Christmas lighting businesses. After selling his original company, he reinvented himself - driven as ever to spread seasonal magic, but now by helping others grow their holiday lighting ventures successfully. Follow Jason for regular tips on taking your Christmas lights business to the next level!

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