The lightbulb moment
The epic story of a small family-run firm turned global online decorative lighting retailer.
The Festive Lights Story
We’re a family-run business born out of less conventional means. Not many companies spark their creative thinking from the theft of two cars. Here’s our unique story...1988
A Tale of Two Stolen Cars
Festive Lights' founder and owner Mark Higginson, a forester by trade, has not one but two of his beloved Mark II Ford Escort RS Turbos stolen and torched, thus beginning a quest to invent a car security product.
1993
Disklok is Born
After initial success with other designs, the Disklok car steering wheel lock is born and becomes an instant success.
1996
Purchase of Disklok House
The home of the current Festive Lights head office is purchased originally for Disklok, hence the name.1999
An Interesting Offer and the Birth of Festive Lights
Disklok production having been taken overseas, whilst on a manufacturing trip to Taiwan, Mark is offered a container full of Christmas lights at an inviting price. Festive Lights is born and the lights, sold from the premises at Disklok House, soon sell out.
2003
www.festive-lights.com
With the seasonal shop now a yearly occurrence, Festive Lights goes online with the very first iteration of the website launched.
2008
DRiBOX is Invented
Not content with just Disklok and Festive Lights, upon noticing that many customers resorted to using a bin bag to protect plugs and extensions for their outdoor lights from the rain, Mark Higginson invents the DRiBOX - a weatherproof box specifically designed to house electrical connections outdoors.
2009
New Logo, New Website
The website relaunches with a new logo on a proper ecommerce platform with a revolutionary new look that would survive - with a few tweaks - until 2012.
Festive Lights Turns 10
The shop - now with two floors full of sparkling festive lights - celebrates its 10th birthday with a 25% off sale. Local radio station Rock FM turn up to cover the event.
2012
Another Website Relaunch
Whoever would have thought that grey text on a black background would go out of fashion... the desire for a refresh leads to another new website in 2012.
2013
Relocation, Relocation, Relocation
The shop at Disklok House closes its doors for the last time, whilst a smaller showroom opens at the site of our warehouse in Wigan, complete with online pay-points and full click and collect functionality. The offices remain at Disklok House.
2014
Home Is Where Our Heart Is
A dedicated home lighting range is introduced, recognising a shift towards all year and not just seasonal products.
2016
And another new website...
Maybe the biggest change to the website so far. This time it's fully responsive, working on mobiles, tablets and desktop computers.
2018
Re-rebrand, when the crowd say Bo Selecta
Festive Lights undergoes a complete rebrand, with new logo, style and a renewed focus on bringing joy through decorative lighting.