The Beginnings:

Like many successful ventures, ours started in a modest fashion. Sarah and Nick Bolton discovered the world of Christmas decorating by accident while trying to draw attention to their bar and restaurant, tucked away in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The decorations they put up turned out to be more effective than they had imagined, sparking an idea for a new business. Without an official name at first, people simply started referring to them as "the Christmas Decorators," and the name stuck.

 

2005

With their son ready to start school, Sarah and Nick made the decision to return to the UK, leaving Aspen behind. They began promoting their business by distributing flyers in their Liverpool neighborhood. A feature on the BBC soon followed, and with it came a significant boost in demand for their services.

 

2006

As their reputation grew, so did their list of prestigious clients. Claridge's of Mayfair, along with well-known personalities such as Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and Wayne Rooney, were among those seeking out their decorating talents.

 

2007

After spending countless days crisscrossing the UK, often fueled by little more than Red Bull, the physical demands of the job began to take a toll. It became clear that expanding via a franchise model was the way forward, and the majority of 2007 was devoted to preparing for this significant shift in the business.

 

2008

Up until this point, all of their lights and decorations had been sourced from UK suppliers. However, as the business grew, so did the need for more control over their products. They made their first trip to China, returning with several containers filled with lights, trees, garlands, and other festive decorations.

 

2009

The X-Factor was at the peak of its popularity, and the production team reached out to the Christmas Decorators to handle their festive decorations that year. By the end of 2009, the business had expanded to include six franchised offices across the UK, with Sarah, Nick, and two other full-time staff.

 

2010

This year marked a major milestone for the company, reaching a turnover of £1 million. High-profile clients, such as McArthur Glen, trusted the team to decorate several shopping centers across Europe.

 

2011

The Christmas Decorators opened their first Christmas shop in Liverpool, along with an online store, making their products accessible to customers nationwide. While they occasionally received surprising inquiries, one in particular stood out: a call from Bethlehem. After an assessment trip, they became the first Western company to decorate Manger Square—a business relationship that remains a point of pride.

 

2012

When a soldier’s wife contacted the team to help create a memorable Christmas for the troops stationed in Afghanistan, they leapt into action. Their efforts were captured and broadcast by the BBC and ITV. Later, the BBC produced a mini-series, “Baubles to Bethlehem,” which aired in November.

 

2013

With 20 franchises operating across the UK, the team found themselves decorating a mansion in Aspen, Colorado, only to discover it belonged to none other than Steven Spielberg—a surreal moment for the business.

 

2014

A town named Liscard, recently voted as having the worst Christmas decorations in the UK, reached out for help. The Christmas Decorators responded with a fundraising event, transforming the town into one of the best-decorated in the country that year.

 

2015

As the company grew, so did their need for space. This led to the creation of the largest Christmas showroom in the UK. A serendipitous stroll past The Ritz in London turned into a commission to decorate the iconic hotel for Christmas.

 

2016

The team was invited to present their work at Harrods, where they decorated a section of the store after hours as a trial. The response was overwhelmingly positive, marking the beginning of a long-term relationship with one of the most famous department stores in the world.

 

2017

The Christmas Decorators secured national contracts with Boots and O2, utilizing their extensive franchise network to execute UK-wide rollouts quickly. They also took on unique projects, such as decorating the residences of the King and Queen at Highgrove and Clarence House and floating a 35-foot Christmas tree on the River Thames.

 

2018

This year, the company was a finalist in the British Franchise Association's awards, ranking in the top three out of 900 franchises across the UK. A documentary crew followed the business throughout the year, resulting in the hit series "The World’s Greatest Christmas Lights," which aired in December.

 

2019

With nearly 40 franchisees in the UK, the team decided to take their business back to where it all began—the USA. They officially launched their US franchise network at the end of 2019, preparing for a full rollout in 2020.

 

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in their American expansion plans, and the hospitality sector was hit hard with cancellations. To show their support, the Christmas Decorators created a large illuminated NHS sign that toured hospitals across the UK. They also launched "Operation Save Christmas," offering free decorations to struggling shopping centers.

 

2021

Despite the setbacks of the previous year, the business soldiered on. The company joined Trustpilot to increase transparency and encourage public reviews. A second documentary, "Deck the Halls," aired on Channel 4, attracting over 3 million viewers.

 

2022

The company reached an incredible milestone, becoming "zero carbon" and giving their clients the chance to offset the carbon emissions of their installations. With £10 million in annual sales, they solidified their place as the largest Christmas decorating company in the UK.

 

2023

This year, they collaborated with Netflix on the UK version of the popular American show "The Great Christmas Light Fight." The showroom saw record numbers of potential clients visiting, as the business continued to thrive. Joe Bolton, Son of Nick and Sarah Bolton

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