About Us

Hello, we’re Lights4fun, a family run business from Harrogate in North Yorkshire

Lights4fun began life in 2003, when Tim Naughton of Harrogate switched on to the fact that Christmas lights were only going to increase in popularity, that people wanted to be able to order them quickly and easily, and that those people wanted to know exactly what they were getting... you might call it ‘a light bulb moment’...

So Lights4fun was born. Back in those days, we had a pretty limited range (picture a few ‘waving Santa’ figurines and a handful of fairy lights) but what little we had was supplemented with unlimited enthusiasm and a desire to provide outstanding customer service. We’ve grown a lot since then, but our quest to seek out innovative and quality lights and decorations while providing incomparable customer service remains the force behind everything we do.

Our Philosophy

At Lights4fun, we know that any success we’ve enjoyed in the past and our economic future as a company are down to one thing: satisfied shoppers. We are totally committed to sourcing quality products and delivering exceptional customer service as we work toward our goal of becoming the largest retailer of decorative and festive lights in Europe – driven by customers who keep coming back because they know that, with Lights4fun, what you see on our website is precisely what you get.

Furthermore, if our customers do encounter any issues with our products or services, we will endeavour to respond to their queries quickly, politely, and to their complete satisfaction.

Our Products

We strive to bring our customers party lights, garden lights, decorations and accessories that are great quality, great value and great fun. Selling online helps us keep our prices competitive – but it’s the quality that keeps our customers coming back. Most of our products include a 12 month guarantee and are designed to last, and as such they represent excellent value for money. What’s more, the Lights4fun team works hard to bring you fun, innovative and unusual items that aren’t available anywhere else, which will bring a smile to your face.

Our History

The year 2003 may not have been the most memorable on record, but for the Lights4fun team it’s a very special one, because in June, the Christmas Lights Company was born.

With limited knowledge of retail, Managing Director Tim Naughton started what is now Lights4fun on his kitchen table in Harrogate. The mainstay of Tim’s first foray into the world of lights was the flashing, waving and climbing species now so popular in our dark, winter streets in the weeks leading up to Christmas. With a sales book full of happy customers for the 2003 festive season, the Christmas Lights Company saw continued growth in 2004, but Tim’s business also started to evolve in unexpected ways.

Tim started his quest because he was fed up with the poor quality lights from local garden centres and stores, and particularly fed up of numb fingers and wasted time spent in the not-so-glorious British winter changing bulbs, fixing fittings, and mending wiring. Tim’s conversations with his customers brought a dawning awareness that there was a huge demand for better quality Christmas lighting – lighting that just wasn’t easily available in the UK.

In 2005, after months upon months of market research, product development and a search for overseas suppliers who valued quality and service as much as he did, Tim made a major decision, changing the name of his company and commencing manufacturing in China. Then as now, we ensure our suppliers conform to current legislation on employment and restriction of hazardous substances.

The result was Lights4fun, a responsive and dynamic new company, with better products, better prices and a brand spanking new website Lights4fun.co.uk. (We also had a rather colourful logo which you’ll find on our Facebook timeline – we’d advise you not to check it out immediately after you’ve eaten...).

Since 2005, Lights4fun has flourished. We’ve delivered nearly a million parcels to our wonderful customers, moved offices three times, brought on board a team of 15 talented locals, and honed our brand identity and service ethics.

Lights4Fun is a great place to work – our team ranges from highly motivated graduates fresh out of university to over-50s with knowledge and experience that we genuinely value. Our family-run business continues to be proud to serve our customers and provide great value products.

Our pride in our region has led us to join Welcome to Yorkshire, the official online community for all things Yorkshire. We’re firm believers in supporting local industry, heritage and tourism – and we’re all thrilled that the eyes of the world will be on us when the Tour de France visits in July 2014.

From then to now

2006

• We only offer low voltage lights for indoor use, still the only retailer to do this.
• Lulu the flat-coat retriever gets a bed in Tim’s office.

2007

• New website launched in June featuring our blue branding. Tears are shed about dropping the vivid neon logo but common sense prevails.
• Energy efficient premium quality LED outdoor lights arrive! We're almost as thrilled as our customers.
• Oops! Pink lights arrive as UV instead. Instead of a pretty pink it's like something from an 80's disco. Panic over as these turn out to be a best seller and we still stock these today. View our UV lights.

2008

• Like Doctor Who, our website regenerates once again. This time our theme is black and green.
• Lights4fun launches in France on eBay & Amazon.

2009

• We move to our Victoria Avenue office, beautiful architecture but no lift, meaning the Lights4fun team soon boasts thighs that can crack walnuts.
• Who needs carpet? Head honcho Matt goes mad at Ikea and buys everyone green shag pile rugs for their work stations. (Matt has not been shopping since).

2010

• Millie the flat-coat puppy arrives. Lulu isn’t impressed.
• Lights4fun moves again… this time our Hornbeam Park HQ: twice the office space and parking for everyone - at last!
• August sees Lights4fun's Germany launch on eBay and Amazon.
• Lights4fun's Halloween section makes it debut, with huge success. View our Halloween Lights.
• Millie realises just how tasty telephone wire is, bringing our phone lines to a standstill for an entire day. Lessons are learned; a back-up plan is put in place and a supply of Scooby snacks rendered constantly available.
• Huge snowfall brings Christmas deliveries to a standstill for two weeks, causing major anguish amongst the Lights4fun team. Luckily 97% of all parcels arrived in time for Christmas thanks to our awesome delivery courier, DPD.

2011

• A Lights4fun record: we bring on board 14 full-time staff for Christmas, all taking orders on the phones...leading to...
• Records sales for the 2011 Christmas period!
• We hit 1000 followers on twitter!

2012

• Jubilee decorations are snapped up the seconds they go online.
• Wedding & party decorations expand the Lights4fun range.
• Our website regenerates again: this time we're using bright, fresh white as our main colour.
• Millie and Lulu get new beds in the office!!
• Halloween4fun.co.uk is launched.
• Our German sister website, Lights4fun.de is launched.