By Kate Stone
Lombardi, The New York Times, Sunday, December 21, 2003
LIBBY BERNER had always put up her own Christmas
decorations. The mother of five struggled with light strands
and tied what she called 'pathetic-looking bows' onto her
staircase. Then Mrs. Berner had her own version of a Christmas
epiphany...
A number of factors have fueled the demand,
business owners say. First, more people want their decorations
to look professional, and they can’t do it. Some cite
safety concerns. Others say they do not have the time to do
it themselves. And some want to avoid the aggravation...
The safety issue is used as a marketing strategy by Christmas
Decor, a national company based in Lubbock, Tex., which has
10 franchises in New York, including three in Westchester.
The company points to a report by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, which said that each year hospital emergency rooms
treat about 12,800 people for injuries like falls, cuts and
shocks related to putting up holiday decorations...
Christmas Decor by Neave Landscaping, based in Wappingers
Falls, bought the three franchises in Westchester. One covers
the Cross River, Waccabuc and South Salem area, another covers
Mount Kisco, Chappaqua, Armonk, Pound Ridge and Katonah, and
the third covers areas in central Westchester like Harrison
and Rye.
Kathleen Neave, vice president of the company, said decorating
jobs have ranged from $2,000 to $20,000, the latter when a
customer decided to light every tree in the yard, to include
displays of Santas and reindeer, and to create 'a little winter
wonderland,' she said. The company sells lights, installs
them, removes them and stores them...
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