How One Army Veteran Used Christmas Decor to Enhance His Landscaping Business

Felix Garcia served in the Army and Army National Guard for 13 years. After being honorably discharged in 2011, he started his own landscaping business. Eight years ago, his company began installing lights for their clients. Now, as a franchisee with Christmas Decor , Garcia can continue along the path he loves with the added support of a team of experts and established franchisees.

“ I’ve been looking for different opportunities to expand and grow my business but didn’t find anything that fit my profile,” he said. “Franchising offered a structure that I didn’t necessarily have before. My business was successful, but at many times it seemed like we were winging it, so I wanted to bring in support and a business model that is successful.”

Garcia added that, in addition to the added expertise, franchising also allowed him the opportunity to grow a business that would more easily be recognized and trusted thanks to its well-known name.

Further, Garcia says he is able to stand out in the area thanks to his continued involvement in the Fort Worth community. “ In the past, my business has been a part of local events and sponsorships, and I want to continue that with Christmas Decor ,” he added.

“ I’m most excited about having the support of a franchise. Everything I’ve learned in the past about the industry was learned on the fly. But now I have the training and processes, so my team and I can go into the project more confidently,” Garcia said.

Looking forward, Garcia says he is excited to expand into the commercial space and broaden his work.

“One of the main reasons we chose Christmas Decor is because of the range of product lines and services they offer. There are so many different revenue streams that we can use throughout the year,” he said. “I’m most excited about having the support of a franchise. Everything I’ve learned in the past about the industry was learned on the fly. But now I have the training, so my team and I can go into the project more confidently.”

Founded in 1986 by Blake Smith, Christmas Decor has become the leading holiday decorating brand in the U.S. and Canada.

Originally created as an off-season supplement to the landscaping business, the Texas-based franchise now brings holiday cheer to over 300 communities across North America, ultimately creating jobs for 3,000-plus seasonal workers that might otherwise be unemployed. Backed by a strong business model and double-digit revenue increase year-over-year for the last 11 years, Christmas Decor is looking to grow in markets across the U.S.