November 15, 2007

Santa Lamps lights the way for no-hassle holiday spirit

Almaden’s own David Mun and Justin Petersen founded Santa Lamps, a Christmas light installation company, and outfitted more than 50 homes last holiday season.

Santa Lamps’ service includes lighting, lawn ornaments and specialty garlands. In addition, the company maintains customers’ lighting arrangements throughout the holiday season. If a bulb burns out, Santa Lamps returns to mend it.

“If you blow some bulbs out or if you trip the circuit breaker, we’ll come out and take care of it at no additional charge,” said Petersen.

Santa Lamps’ design capability meets the needs of any customer. “We have a customer with a very high-end home in Atherton that has us design an entire Christmas lighting scheme, and we have a customer in Evergreen who lets their 6-year-old make the decisions,” said Mun. “We can work with anybody.”

Design and installation packages start as low as $150 for a single-story single-family home.
As for the founders, Mun and Petersen, both graduated from Leland High School, after attending Bret Harte Middle School together.

Last year the duo elected to spend the holiday season scampering up ladders and across roofs, hanging Christmas decorations, while businesses that they started independently gained momentum.

“Work that surrounds the holiday season is really enjoyable because people care about it,” said Petersen. “Customers care about the work that we do. Parents care about what their kids think of the family’s Christmas spirit.”

Service also includes off-season storage at the company’s warehouse facility. Lights are returned in working condition, and ready to shine.

Santa Lamps can even design a custom lighting setup that fits your specific needs, be it residential or commercial.

“With all of the craziness associated with the holidays, people gravitate toward Santa Lamps because it simplifies their lives,” said Mun.

“We help families avoid the hassle and work involved with hanging lights and putting up decorations,” he said. “A lot of people just don’t have the time to install and then remove their Christmas lights. There are also safety concerns about climbing around on the roof and going up and down ladders. We do it.”

Peterson, 27, and Mun, 28, have been good friends ever since they met at Bret Harte Middle School in sixth grade. When they’re not hanging lights and installing decorations during the holidays, they maintain regular jobs. Petersen owns a publishing company, Section Sports, that prints sports-related materials and Mun is an accountant during the tax season and tours with South Bay recording artist, “Starving Millionaires.”does Mun suggest to people who are about to decorate their homes and yards with lights and decorations? “Less is more,” he explained. “Too many people get in a competition with their neighbors and end up putting up way too much. Stay away from clutter. Simplicity is the key when putting up lights.

For more information, call (408) 386-7373 or visit www.santalamps.com.

Quick Tip: Try the new LED Christmas lights. Your house will light up brighter and longer while keeping your PG&E bill lower that last Christmas season.