Continued from page 22 LIGHTS
started Holiday Lighting Specialists in Tonkawa, Okla. Their vision was to make high-quality outdoor lighted displays available to homeowners. “Most companies at the time were focused on com- mercial lighting, but no one was making outdoor lighted frames for homeowners,” said Martin, presi- dent of Holiday Lighting Specialists.
Now in its 18th year of operation, the company has accomplished its mission. Martin credits the company’s success in part to Kay Electric Coopera- tive. The co-op assisted Holiday Lighting Specialists in securing fi nancing through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program twice during its fi rst years of existence. According to Austin Partida, marketing director at Kay Electric, the program is designed to encourage rural development by lending interest-free federal funds to a local utility organization – in this case the electric co-op. Holiday Lighting Specialists, in turn, repaid the funding to Kay Electric. “It helped us to build our buildings and to get on our feet. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to survive,” Martin said. “We’re very thankful to Kay Electric.”
The company’s formula for success also includes its superior products. The metal frames for the light displays are hand-cut from high-quality raw materi- als, bent and welded at its factory in Tonkawa. The concern for quality has also led the company to utilize
LED bulbs to light 80 percent of its displays. Accord- ing to Martin, there are several advantages to using LEDs.
“The bulbs don’t contain fi laments like traditional bulbs so they are much more durable,” Martin said. “There’s no glass involved and they don’t break if you drop them.”
Although the initial cost is higher compared to incandescents, they consume 70 to 90 percent less energy and last four to fi ve times longer, with fewer problems.
“That becomes a big factor when you’re really into decorating,” Martin said.
The team of 18 employees, which supplies 100 dec- orators and 10,000 individuals, also puts a premium on professionalism and excellent customer service. “We bring in 70 percent of our income in 80 days. That means we have a huge volume of calls and or- ders coming in,” Martin said. “We function at a very high level of effi ciency for three months, and that’s diffi cult to do.”
Attached to the factory is a 6,000-square-foot re- tail area where customers can view all of the lighted frames. Designs range from traditional nativity scenes and a variety of Christmas characters to animated displays and 3D trees. They also sell other products focused on lighting such as battery-operated wreaths and novelty light sets. The showroom, located off of I-35, 14 miles west of Ponca City, is open seven days a week from Aug. 15 – Jan. 15. A complete catalog is available online at
http://www.holidaylights.com and products can be shipped nationwide.
STEEL BUILDINGS ALL STEEL FRAMING • PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION • FREE QUOTES COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS/OFFICE • CHURCHES • SHOPS • SELF STORAGE WAREHOUSES • BARNS • ARENAS • HANGARS • STEEL ADD-ONS
Oklahoma Christmas Light Displays through Sun.
Kingfi sher in Lights
Open nightly at 6 p.m., Weds. before Thanks- giving through Dec. 30.
No charge; donations accepted.
Call the Kingfi sher Chamber of Commerce at 405-375-4445 to ar- range a group tour
Christmas Kingdom at the Castle
Driving tour open nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, weather permitting
Free admission; dona- tions accepted
Castle open Thurs.
Visit
okcastle.com for more information
Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park
Open nightly at 5:30 p.m., Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve
No charge; donations accepted
Call the Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department at 918- 684-6302 for more information
For more informa- tion about Oklahoma holiday festivals, visit
www.travelOK.com. OL
1-800-664-7055 Tulsa: 918-495-0656
www.heartland-steelinc.com DECEMBER 2011 27
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