Testimonials from our Members: Work at Home Moms, and Others that Saw this Small Business for Sale

Karen and Pete Alexder, Danville, California: "Commercial landscaping, Christmas Rentals and plant leasing really compliment each other."

Just a quick note: Now that we have added the Christmas division onto our existing landscaping company we are able to keep year around employees. Just when the exterior landscaping jobs slow down for the fall and winter the Christmas Rentals really fills in this gap nicely. Our plant business is doing great as well just from our commercial referrals. Commercial landscaping, Christmas Rentals and plant leasing really compliment each other. You have made the business plans so easy to follow. Have the office staff and Pamela on standby gives us extra confidence too.

Thanks you guys,

Karen and Pete Alexander

Roger Simon, Freeport, Connecticut: "Christmas decorating professionally seemed like the natural progression from playing Santa Claus at the local mall each year."

September 19, 2004

Hey you all,

I joined Christmas Concepts back in 2002 after finding something on the Internet about them. My wife Sheila and I have always liked Christmas time, and we do it up right. We decorate with loads of lights outside. My Sheila puts up 4 Christmas trees for our annual neighborhood Christmas tour through our neighborhood too. My father loved Christmas and taught me all about the electrical aspects and between this and our love for the season this business seemed like a good fit. Besides, Christmas decorating professionally seemed like the natural progression from playing Santa Clause at the local mall each year. I have been doing this on my days off for 3 years and I will volunteer forever if they let me.

I have talked to a few of your prospective buyers a few times now. To be honest Pamela, they call too late at night or ask questions I feel are too personal so I would prefer to give you a reference for your website. I hope you understand; you can't be too careful now days.

Oh one last thing, please sign me up for your next seminar. The videos and books have been great but I would like to come and learn more from the master.

Meet you soon,
Roger and Sheila Simon

Debbie Wine, Newton Falls, Ohio: "I just love Christmas decorating; it's my favorite time of year."

February 2, 2007

Hi everybody,

I can't wait for next year! I have so many ideas already I can't wait to get decorating again. I just love Christmas decorating, it's my favorite time of year anyway, and now I get paid for it too. How did I get so lucky? With your help I had 4 jobs last November and this year I already had 3 sign up for a second year. I don't plan to let this last one get away either! We are already talking about a few ideas for next year and they seem to be receptive. I will keep you posted.

Anyway, for anyone considering Christmas Concepts, they are as nice as they appear. The website tells a lot about them and when you call they actually return calls. I just know I am going to do well!

Thanks again,
Debbie

Alecia McCormack, Brooklyn, New York: "My husband was very supportive when I quit Corporate America for my dream career."

I have always wanted to do Christmas decorating a career but never did anything about it. Then one day I was searching the Internet for Christmas decorations and found Christmas Concepts. I just knew it was for me. My husband was very supportive when I quit corporate America to pursue my dream career. It was the best move I ever made.

I have 4 years under my belt now and several contracts each year. I have 2 new clients for this season coming up. I have been able to utilize some of the decorations for evening weddings during other times of the year and the profits have been great. I plan to start the plant business next spring. I see this as a viable business I can do for years to come.

Seasons Greetings,
Alecia McMormick

Sophia Johnson, Oxnard, California: "First off, you returned all my calls and emails."

Dear Pam,

I just wanted to write a quick note to tell you how excited I am to have found you. I've been searching for a home-based business for a long time and when I found you it just felt right. First off, you returned all my calls and email quickly. This gave me great security that when I needed you I would be able to count on you. Next the books and videos are very nice; such a complete compilation of information in one organized system has been quite easy to follow.

I am so looking forward to doing this business successfully and meeting with you at an upcoming seminar. Finding a real legitimate business is hard to find now days and I just know your organization will help me through each step of finding and securing contracts.

Sophia
"The Christmas Lady"

Bill Moad, Clearwater Harbor, North Carolina: "This little business changed my life and gave me a new one too."

September 2, 2008

Dear Pam,

After my wife passed away I just hated the holidays. All our kids are grown and to be honest I've had a real hard time. My son suggested this business for me as a diversion and it sure has worked. My second year we made almost $17,000.00 and my third year we made almost $22,000 for only 10 small projects. Now that I am getting older I think I might give the business to my son and wife and just help them out from time to time.

Now for the best news of all: I'm getting remarried! Yep that's right. I met a wonderful woman at a networking group I attend and we really hit it off. She is a bookkeeper and almost ready to retire too. You and your staff are all invited so I will keep you posted.

This little business changed my life and gave me a new one too.

Thanks you guys,
Bill

Stephanie and Fisher Gamble, El Paso, Texas: "We're having a ball with this business."

July 10, 2008

Hey you all,

Fisher and I are so excited for our second season to start. I have been looking on line for discounted artificial trees, wreaths and garlands and really got some deals recently. We both have full time jobs but always wanted to have a little business together so this is perfect. We have both been married before and both have kids and they all keep bugging us to get involved.

We can see this business as a family hobby and moneymaker. Thanks you guys, everyone in the office has been great and we are so excited to launch the new free website, I just placed my order so now we are really official.

Love,
The Gamble Gang

Emily and George Fisherson: Sioux Falls, South Dakota: "For a stay at home mom, this has been a blessing."

Dear Pamela and Christmas Concepts,

We are so proud of our first season we just can't wait to be on your website any longer. We made it a goal that if we got 3 jobs this season we would write this together and submit it for you to consider posting in your testimonial section.

We never advertised, or told anyone we were offering this service. I just made a few phone calls like the books tell us to do. I was shocked how excited people were to have us come over and show them the portfolio. It really was that simple. Everyone was very open to the idea and I was delighted but very surprised. South Dakota is pretty conservative but we all love Christmas so I thought why not give this little business a try and it has definitely paid off. We did our local bank, a retirement home and a car dealership. The bank was pretty simple, and the retirement had a few decorations already so we incorporated their stuff with ours and it all came out great. The car dealership that we thought was going to be just a few decorations on the outdoor poles turned into a large project inside and out. They kept adding more stuff and by the time it was all over we charging them $5500.00 and next year they want ever more d�cor.

For a stay at home mom this has been a real blessing.

Sincerely,
Emily and George Fisherson

Chris and Jeannie Ringer, Indianapolis, Indiana: "The work was so easy my stepson did most of it without any supervision."

June 3, 2006

I wanted to tell you all how our Christmas business has been going along. My mother passed away so we did not get started at all in 2004. Life has a way of postponing even the best of intentions. In 2005 my wife and I really gave it a good go. We did 6 Christmas projects, 4 outside strip malls, 1 hotel and 1 office for our insurance agent.

The insurance company had a simple 8' tree with matching wreath and garlands and a few sets of lights on the outside that we set on a time to match the inside tree. We used simple red and gold balls and stars and bows. Everyone raved about how nice everything looked. The one hotel we did was a Marriott and they were much more demanding but paid us so much more it was worth it. We actually did the same decorations for the hotel as we did for the insurance company, just with a few more of everything and the theme went well. Both the hotel and insurance company signed on for a second year so we feel pretty confident going in the 2006 season.

I have found that I personally like the strip malls the best where my wife likes the indoor decorating the best. I like the freedom of choosing how I dress, when I work and being able to fit each project around my full time job has been a great help. We did one complete strip mall at night, one early in the morning, and the other 2 sort of a mixture of each. We used pr-made decorations from your impressive wholesale list and the work was so easy my stepson did most of it without any direct supervision.

While my wife will probably do a few more hotels and such, I personally will do about 3 to 4 more exterior jobs this next season. They were easy to work with and again the freedom as to the installation work makes Christmas Concepts business a real winner in my books.

Very sincerely yours,

Chris and Jeannie

Chris and Jenna Rupert, Indiana "We are very happy with our investment in Christmas Concepts."

April 2008

My wife home schools our children and I have a full time job, so we were worried but hopeful when we joined. I want to thank you guys for your help these past 2 seasons. Victoria, my customer service rep was great. She even made a few calls for me, and landed my biggest account to date. I am grateful for the extra service she provided. We are very happy with our investment in Christmas Concepts.

Even with the gas prices going up we made a good profit. I have 4 accounts and after expenses and gas we cleared $9,110.00. Not bad for a few scattered weeks of work! We did 2 installations early in the morning and 2 in the later evening. By searching our local newspapers, we got great deals on decorations too. Returning unused items made our profits higher, so we bought locally as much as possible.

All 4 contracts have signed up already for next year, and we have decided to take on one more jobs a year until the kids are older. This is a long-term plan we can live with.

Thank you so much and especially Victoria, we could not have done it without her.

Gratefully
Chris and Jenna Hubert, Indiana

Jarrett Turner, Little Rock, Arkansas: "We made $32,000.00 NET profit this season."

I began my journey with Christmas Concepts back in 2003 when I was visiting a friend that has joined and she was really having great success with her business. Nancy showed my wife and I the websites and we were so impressed we asked her all about how she had gotten started. Before our visit was over we had called and talked to Pamela directly. She was easy to get along with and we enjoyed her sense of humor. We knew we could work with her and create more income for our family.

My wife and I are both firefighters and wanted to start a family but also be able to take the much-needed time off to raise our children and be there to enjoy them while they grew up. The Christmas Rental business has allowed us all that and more. We are very happy we found Christmas Concepts and we are even happier we joined.

Thanks so much,
Jarrett

P.S. As of February 2008: Hey Pam, we made $32,000 NET profit this season when the dust all settled and our Christmas decorations were all taken down. We are more than overjoyed! I love the new free website too, it was easier to show clients how their locations would look and they seemed more excited about the process. Thanks again we love you guys!

Jameson Hansen, Branson, Missouri: "This Christmas rental business gives me the lifestyle I've always dreamed of!"

After the Navy I moved down here to Branson to be near my grandparents. I enjoy the people, and easy-going life style. I do the Christmas Decorations for many of the local resorts and hotels and I find them open to my ideas. The portfolio is so impressive they just point to the Christmas trees they like and I installation it. My wife and I just bought our first home and I see myself living here and being the "Christmas Man" forever.

I just got my first client asking about plants so I guess I will be a Green Concepts member soon too.

Jamie and Janet
Branson, Missouri

Alexia Storer, London, England: "I love how my life is unfolding."

3/17/08

Dear Pamela and the office staff,

I have always wanted to have my own business but never thought a company in the States would teach me what I needed to learn. I looked for a few years here in England and no one offered this type of business program. I majored in Environmental Horticulture in college but after graduating found there were very few jobs in my field. Rather than throw my knowledge away I decided to find something that I had a passion for, my Christmas and Plant business is definitely a passion. My family has always loved Christmas and each year it was the highlight of the season to help my parents decorate all over the house, inside and out.

I can't wait to wake up in the morning to see what will happen next. I am finding accounts quite easy to locate and secure. I will never go into the work force and my financial future is secure. I'm up to $46,000 per season and growing each season!

I love how my life is unfolding!
Alexia

Lynn Nixon, Oak Park, Illinois: "I already have a few Christmas contracts on the books for this year."

Even though working for a major corporation is a huge achievement, being self-employed has always been a personal goal as well! I promised myself I would achieve both these dreams before I turned 40 years old. This year I will be 40 and I have achieved both of my goals. My Christmas Rental Business is doing very nicely and I already have a few Christmas contracts on the books for this year.

Thanks Christmas Concepts, I could never have done it without you!

Lynn Nixon

Debbie Molyner, Houston, Texas: "I am making more money than I have ever made before."

After a difficult divorce I needed something to sink my teeth into. The Christmas business has been a perfect match for me. I work my full time job during the day, and take care of my Christmas jobs during November and December. I'm making more money than I have ever made before, and I have lost 30 pounds and I feel great.

Life has new possibilities again.

Debbie Molyner
Houston, Texas

Kyle Smith, Los Angeles, California: "Last year we cleared $29,360.00 in less than 2 months."

I attended a seminar in the summer of 2005 and had an absolute ball. Now I hear I am on the DVD videos so you will see me decorating my first wreath. I'm not as creative as some of the other members, but I find the 'tree recipes' in the books make me look like I know what I am doing. Following their step-by-step plan has made this business a lot easier than I though.

Kyle

Marlene Fletcher, Pasadena, California: "I'm amazed how easy it is to get Christmas contracts."

I have a great job with tenure so quitting is not an option. I was looking for a little something I could sink my teeth into. My mother and I started this business together. We have always love Christmas decorating. Now that she is older I do the Christmas business with my youngest daughter and it has brought us much closer. I'm amazed at how easy it is to get Christmas contracts. All our work is now by referrals!

Sincerely,
Marlene and Katie Fletcher

Keith Parker, Reno, Nevada: "Once they have me decorate the first year, they never let me go."

"I love the outdoors, so I focus my Christmas rentals on outdoor work only. Strip malls are everywhere so contracts have been easy to secure. Once they have me decorate the first year, they never let me go. It's almost a lifetime guaranteed contract. I plan to get 4 or 5 more jobs this year to add to my portfolio. Profits on the same exact jobs are higher and higher every year.

Next to the birth of my son, this business is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I've already started a college fund and I'm only 32!

Thank you, Christmas Concepts!

Keith Parker

Bic Nyugen, Salt Lake City, Utah: "I work very hard for 2 months and have the rest of the year off."

Dear Pam: September 2006

I have waited a long time to be on your website. I wanted to be able to keep up my grades and pay off my college loans quickly. I work very hard for 2 months and have the rest of the year off. After graduating I am not sure where I will live but I will for sure be doing my Christmas business too. I will have a great small business for sale when I graduate. I will have money to start over wherever I move. My brother is thinking of beginning the Plant business and I might join him back in Vietnam. My family is there and it would be nice to have a business with my family. I love that you support small businesses for women too. I will let you know where I go soon, I graduate this coming June. Yeah for Customer Service too, they have been great.

Regards,
Bic Nyugen

Quinna Porter, Little Rock, Arkansas: "My family has always loved Christmas. Now we get paid for it."

My mom, sister, and aunt all work with me during the season. We look forward to working together and making a bundle of money too. My family has always loved Christmas. Now we get paid for it. My husband was not excited about this at first, in fact none of the men in our family were, but we just stood our ground and to be honest they enjoy it just as much as we do now.

Tom Blowne, Portland, Oregon: "My wife and I love working together."

Real Estate has its ups and downs. Finding extra income on the side was a challenge since I need to be ready to show homes with a quick notice. I wanted something flexible and since Christmas is the slowest time of year for real estate, this seemed like a good match. Between the Chamber of Commerce and my friends, we stay busy.

My wife and I love working together. The supplemental income provided from the Christmas business has helped us to have a good life. This is a great little business. If you get a chance, make sure to attend one of the seminars, we went to the one in Las Vegas Nevada several years ago and had a great time. Pamela's daughters were fun to spend time with too; they are like little mini Pam's.

Grateful
Tom and Allison

John Clifford, Alexandra, Canada: "Plan on working hard and sleeping after the New Year."

When I first began with Christmas I definitely didn't charge enough. I was afraid customers would say no and I wanted this business to work so bad I sort of gave it away. After a few years I realized I could charge more and they never flinched. Then it became a real business. My wife and I always dreamed of having a business where we could work together. Now we do. She handles the phones, ordering products and the paperwork; I do the decorating and negotiating.

Last year we did several model homes and then the country club and entryway. This has led to several more jobs for this upcoming year and it looks like a very good company to offer other services to after the holidays. This really is a cool business and according to my wife, we now make more in 3 months then I did in my other job working the rest of the year. Plan on working hard and sleeping after the New Year.

John & Brittany

Guarrina Nattera, Interalla Thailand: "American hotels are very happy to have my decorations."

I love only working a few months a year, especially when I get to be with my children and family the other time. My small business has afforded me the luxury of caring for my elderly parents and grandmother at home. I have many friends who work for big companies and they have very little to keep after their long day is over. I get to keep all the profits for my family. American hotels are very happy to have my decorations. Christmas is very popular in my country so I think I will do nicely for a long time.

Thank you so much,
Guarrina Nattera

Brent and Brenda Tell, Greenville, North Carolina: "They all said YES, I was shocked."

My wife dared me to start a Christmas business. I had been talking about it for years. When I found Christmas Concepts I signed up the very same day. We didn't even need to look into small business loans since their franchise was so affordable. We only had 4 Christmas jobs last year, but our NET Profit was over $10,000. I went after the biggest accounts in town, the city, a mall and 2 hotels. They all said yes. I was shocked. I made a lot of mistakes and I am not sure one hotel will want me back next year. So far the other 3 have signed back up. We will be just fine either way.

Seasons Greetings,
B & B

Jose and Simone Sianone, Suffold, Virginia: "This is great! I only worked two weeks total. It was the quickest money I have ever made in my life."

Dear Pam:

I know we have only been members for a year, but I really want to give you this written reference. I respect you and I want others to know about you�

I called Pam several years ago about the business, but never got around to following through. Then last year I was laid off and decided to give the Christmas business a try. I had checked out more than 10 business plans, like vending machines, paving driveways, even a blow up fun house for birthdays, but I kept coming back to this one. I genuinely believe Pam wants me to succeed. She's real and you can feel it. It's very refreshing to find someone who is honest.

She suggested finding a full time job and work slowly around it. I took her advice and landed a great job. I got 5 exterior strip malls the first year and made a whopping $12,125.00. She said it would get better next year, but I think, it doesn't need to. This is great! I only worked two weeks total. It was the quickest money I have ever made in my life, and it was fun too.

Pam has a spiritual side and talks about it freely. It has made me more grounded just knowing her. I always feel good after one of our little talks. Get to know her, you won't be sorry!

Always,
Jose and Simone Sianone

Mike Buckles, Phoenix Arizona: "The wholesalers all knew who we were just by using your name and we really felt we got extra special attention because of it."

Dear Pamela, February 12, 2002

Well, it's finally over!!! The decorations are down, boxed and stored. Everything fit into our warehouse so we didn't have to rent additional storage. Things went very smoothly this season. We doubled our Christmas business this year compared to 2000! We were also more profitable, better organized, more confident, and even a little less grumpy from overwork. All of this can be attributed to what we learned from you and your staff at the seminar! We found al the information you shared to be most helpful. The wholesale sources were exceptional. We got all of our trees, wall sprays and wreaths from Holiday Foliage. They were incredibly responsive and delivered a great product. All the other wholesalers we used were super to work with as well. The wholesalers all knew who we were just by using your name, and we really felt we got extra special attention because of it.

Phil and I are taking our wives on a little vacation next week to New Orleans. This is our reward for making it through the season. Next year will be even bigger. We are already planning for some new marketing ideas and setting our goals for the 2002 season.

We hope your season was successful as well. Please accept our best wishes to you and your staff for a happy and prosperous 2000! Thank you for giving us the tools we needed to make this the best Christmas season we've ever had. Green Concepts is one of the best franchise business opportunities we could have invested in.

Best wishes,

Mike Buckles
Buckles Greenbelt & Guaranteed Christmas

Reenie Davis Hale, Ozark, Missouri: "I have become creative; I never knew it was in me."

Dear Pamela, July 4, 2006

This is my second reference for your website, I hope you decide to print it. I'm so proud of myself I could just pinch myself. We have really done well this season. I expect to do even better next year. We got written up in the newspaper. I am enclosing the article for you and the gang in the office to check me out. We have received several calls already from the write up and I just know we are going to get tons of work from all the publicity.

Christmas decorating takes planning but I find if I go to yard sales and thrift stores in the summer I get most of my artificial trees so cheap I can break them down and use the branches for most anything. I have become creative; I never knew it was in me. The hospital keeps adding plants and this year they are asking already about Christmas. I think they may have seen the article in the paper. They better hurry; I might be too busy for them. I love being a work at home mom, and I think woman entrepreneurs are a growing part of the American dream and I am proud to be among them.

Love you all,
Reenie

Update from Reenie: 2/4/08 I now have 6 Christmas clients and make over $12,000.00 each and every year that I can count on, and a few more scheduled for this next season. My only Plant contract is the hospital but we are up several hundred dollars per month, and the replacements are usually only $25/mo, so I am making a huge profit and I love doing it.

Nancy Hatch, Virginia Beach, Virginia: "There is no limit to what you can do in this business if you're not afraid to just try it."

Hi Everybody,

I'm one of Pamela's favorite members. She probably tells everyone that, but I know I am. I joined in 1993 and I have been to over 5 of her seminars. I attend just to visit with her and her wonderful daughters Victoria and Jennifer. Jennifer actually came to Virginia Beach one season and worked for me. She was great. I turned over half my jobs to her and she ran like I know Pam taught her.

Next year I plan to double my business. I have also done several weddings during the off-season and my favorites always include evening weddings with loads of mini lights. Pamela says don't do it, but I just love them.

I also want to go after some huge commercial lighting. What am I saying, I want to go after anything huge and challenging! There is no limit to what you can do in this business if you're not afraid to try.

One other thing, I definitely need a bookkeeper and someone to answer the phone calls that come in. I tried to do it all last year and had I not had to spend so much time talking to customers, I could have done more jobs. That part was frustrating.

A bit of advice for newcomers: If you're afraid of taking the plunge and feeling you can't do it alone, well your not alone. There is a whole group of us only a phone call away that will be happy to assist you. I am very grateful to my fellow seminar buddies too. Even if I didn't have an important question, I can call and just get encouragement. Sometimes that's all we need is to have someone say; "YOU CAN DO IT!"

If I can do it, "you can do it!"

Nancy from Virginia

Chuck and Elsie Smith, Pompano Beach, Florida: The Snowbirds from Pompano- "We travel in our motor home 50 weeks a year and work only 2 weeks a year. Who could ask for anything more perfect?

Dearest Pamela, February 17, 2007

Hello everyone, Chuck and Elsie here.

When we spoke the other day Elsie and I were delighted to hear you wanted a testimonial about our little Christmas business for your website. What a grand adventure it has been. We joined Christmas Concepts before they were famous, almost 18 years ago. We were both elementary school teachers and getting close to retirement age. We both had always loved Christmas and had elaborate decorations for our home each holiday. My personal specialty was the outside with my electrical know-how and my wife always did the inside up right. Most of our children and grandchildren are grown, and we had been discussing how we would supplement our income once we reached retirement age. We had always planned to travel the United States for a few years after retirement while we still had our health and for me I just hoped I had my teeth and some hair left.

We stumbled onto Christmas Concepts quite by accident. We soon found ourselves traveling to San Diego to be part of their first seminar. We were delighted to learn we could work a few weeks in November and make as much as it would have taken both of us the entire year to earn dabbling at part time jobs. We were hooked.

Over the years we had and still only have 6 simple Christmas projects each year. We do 6 retirement homes that many of our friends now reside in. After the first couple of years we began venturing out during the spring and summer traveling in our motor home and enjoying the many glorious sights America offers. We travel back to Pompano in early November just in time to visit with friends and family, drag all our decorations out of storage from our friends many garages, and decorate our Christmas projects.

We are too old now to do any decorating so we hire our grandson to do the work, and the profits from these small jobs along with our retirement and social security have allowed us the unique opportunity of travel almost 11 months a year. We have even traveled to see Pamela in her new home in San Luis Obispo 3 times over the years.

Our customers enjoy our work, they pay us the same amount each year, my wife plays the piano for her friends while our grandson decorates, and I brag about our adventures and have slide shows at night. Our dog "Ruff" travels from room to room visiting his old friends and well, life is good. After the holidays we drag all the decorations back to our friends garages, and off we go again. All in all it's been great, we travel in our motor home 50 weeks a year, and only work 2 weeks a year. Who could ask for anything more perfect?

We still have our health which I personally think is due to our travels and adventurous spirit and I recommend not only the "Snow Bird" lifestyle, taking a long walk each day, not taking yourself too seriously, getting plenty of rest, and Christmas Concepts, their top quality franchises have made our retirement years a dream come true.

Very Gratefully and Happily Yours

Chuck and Elsie Smith "The Snowbirds from Pompano"

From the Great States of America