By Laurie Abbott
Going into his third season at Griswold Holiday Lighting , owner Aaron Vines is excited to light up the upcoming holidays .
At Griswold , Vines works with his clients to design their own unique holiday lighting for their homes . Vines and his team install the lights and maintain them throughout the season . Then they remove and store the lights . All of this is included in a set price .
Three years ago , Vines started Griswold Holiday Lighting in Somerset because he had always enjoyed Christmas lighting and wanted to build his business here .
“ We ’ re local , we ’ re family owned , and we love this community ,” Vines said .
Griswold services Pulaski County but is not afraid to travel . “ I ’ ll go as far as Monticello , it just depends ,” Vines said .
Though Vines is not from Somerset , he has grown fond of it , “ I really enjoy this community ,” he said , “ Everybody knows everybody , and I like that .”
As a business owner , Vines works to give Griswold a “ more family feel .” Vines said he strives to provide a quality of work he can be proud of .
“ It ’ s something I ’ m passionate about because of my kids ,” Vines said . On Christmas break , he and his family go look at Christmas lights around the neighborhoods and even go downtown to see the light display there .
Vines and Griswold Holiday Lighting recently joined the Somerset Chamber of Commerce . Vines gives discounts to Chamber Members as well as returning customers .
When Vines started out in 2020 , he had six customers , and by the next year Griswold had grown to service 35 customers . In October of this year , he already has 28 .
“ I ’ m looking to double what we had last year ,” Vines said , his hopes set high for this season .
Vines does not attribute the growth to advertising since Griswold does very little . Aside from joining the Chamber of Commerce and Facebook ads , they have relied on word of mouth .
“ It ’ s spread ,” Vines said , “ If you do something good , people hear about it .”
Some customers , Vines said , even keep the lights on their homes year-round .
November 2022 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 25