Mark and Anne McGinty - Netting seven figures in months hanging Christmas lights with SAN FRANCISCO HOLIDAY LIGHTING, INC.

How I Built My Small Business

In this special episode, join me, Anne, and my husband Mark as we co-host a journey down memory lane, reflecting on the origins and evolution of San Francisco Holiday Lighting, Inc, a full-service holiday lighting and decor installation company. Mark, with a background in carpentry, and myself, formerly a sales representative for a nationwide oral and body care company, share the story of how we built our business.
Tune in for valuable insights as we reminisce on the lessons learned during our path to netting seven figures annually, all within the dynamic world of holiday lighting - a business that only operates for six months a year.
Article mentioned in the podcast:
San Francisco Chronicle Magazine

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How I Built My Small Business.

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1. Starting and Growing the Business (00:00:00)

2. Getting into the Christmas Light Installation Business (00:02:10)

3. Starting the Business with Limited Resources (00:04:31)

4. Overcoming Financial Challenges (00:06:24)

5. Marketing and Acquiring Clients (00:09:13)

6. Dealing with Challenges and Service Calls (00:10:38)

7. Calculating Retention Rate and Forecasting (00:14:40)

8. Employee Retention and Incentives (00:16:25)

9. Challenges of Large Commercial Jobs (00:18:21)

10. Organizing Supplies and Equipment (00:21:42)

11. Efficiency and Scheduling Jobs (00:23:34)

12. Increasing Prices and Profitability (00:28:15)

13. Building Relationships and Sales (00:35:38)

14. Employee Management and Feedback (00:40:06)

15. Considering Selling the Business (00:46:40)

16. Selling the Business during COVID (00:49:58)

17. Transparency and Smooth Selling Process (00:51:28)

18. Thriving Under New Ownership (00:51:56)

19. Key Lessons Learned (00:52:29)