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December 23, 2009

Andover couple buys back Christmas decorating business

By Judy Wakefield

Standing in a huge Delta airplane hangar at Boston's Logan Airport earlier this month, Bill and Leslie Ferris of Andover smiled with the crowd of some 300 kids surrounding them.

After all, their job was done and the kids loved it. That was worth smiling about to this lifelong Andover couple who had lit up a big holiday party once again.

The Ferrises are the mom and pop behind a popular holiday lighting business in town. They own the local franchise of Christmas Decor, a national company based in Texas. They also own a landscaping business.

Positive economic news may not be lighting up this holiday as money woes continue for many companies forcing them to scale back holiday decorating. But Christmas Decor lit up its books with lighting jobs, which included that Delta hangar decorating job. The Make a Wish Foundation hired Christmas Decor of Andover for its holiday party decorating. That party was held at the Delta Boeing 757 hangar on Dec. 12.

"We had a good season in spite of what's going on (with the economy)," said Leslie Ferris, who graduated from Andover High School in 1980, four years after her husband graduated.

It's been a busy month for the couple, decorating local homes and businesses. And, they clearly enjoy it.

"People are so busy, but they want lights and that's what we do," said Bill Ferris, who calls his holiday lighting style "turnkey."

Customers turn a home's front door key, enter, flip a switch and the holiday lights come on, he explained.

So what if this couple's holiday shopping never starts until a few days before Christmas. This couple is used to it and simply enjoys helping others turn on their holiday lights.

It was almost lights out for this local Christmas Decor franchise five years ago. After 23 years, Leslie and Bill Ferris decided to sell both their decorating and their landscaping businesses and try something different. It was 2004 when the businesses were sold, and the couple was making plans to get into real estate development.

But when the new owner had financial trouble, this couple found themselves seriously thinking of getting the decorating franchise back.

They eventually bought back the businesses. That happened in September of this year, and six employees were thrilled to be rehired for year-round jobs.

It's worked out well, Leslie Ferris said, as just three months back on the holiday decorating scene has landed new customers while former customers are happy the franchise is back.

"Holiday lights are something positive," Bill said. "It's just great to work around that."