Midwest Holiday Lighting expands Illinois push

Midwest Holiday Lighting says it is scaling up across Illinois as founder Tom Johnson targets a long-term goal of becoming the state’s largest holiday lighting contractor. The company is investing in crews, operations and customer relationships while adding both seasonal and permanent lighting work.

Why it matters: - Midwest Holiday Lighting is trying to move from a regional installer to a larger Illinois player in both seasonal holiday lighting and permanent architectural lighting. - The company’s growth plan depends on expanding capacity without losing the personalized service that helped build its reputation. - The company says its long-term goal is to become the largest holiday lighting contractor in Illinois.

What happened: - Midwest Holiday Lighting announced its next phase of expansion in Champaign, Illinois. - Founder Tom Johnson said the company is building toward a bigger statewide footprint across Illinois. - The business has grown from a one-man operation using a collapsible ladder stored in a car trunk into a regional company serving homeowners and businesses. - The company now installs seasonal holiday lighting and permanent architectural lighting.

The details: - Johnson said the company’s vision extends beyond Christmas lights and is aimed at creating a trusted year-round brand. - Midwest Holiday Lighting serves residential and commercial customers throughout Illinois. - The company plans to grow by adding crews, improving operations and deepening long-term customer relationships. - Johnson said every installation is treated as an investment in the company’s reputation. - The company is also positioning itself as one of Illinois’ premier permanent and seasonal lighting companies. - The company’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - Johnson’s personal background is part of the company story and appears to shape the brand’s identity around grit and persistence. - He was born in China, spent part of his childhood in both the United States and China, and returned to the U.S. alone at 15. - After leaving a military boarding school in China, Johnson worked factory and restaurant jobs before moving to Southern Illinois for farm work. - Johnson later joined the Illinois Army National Guard and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois. - He launched the business by knocking on doors and handling installations himself between military service and college. - Johnson continues serving in the Illinois Army National Guard, works full-time in biotech sales, invests in real estate and is training for a 50-mile ultramarathon in Moab, Utah.

What’s next: - Midwest Holiday Lighting plans to keep expanding across Illinois as demand increases. - The company expects to keep adding residential and commercial work while building a more recognizable brand statewide. - Johnson said the business will keep focusing on consistent quality and customer trust as it grows.

The bottom line: - Midwest Holiday Lighting is betting that disciplined execution and repeat customers can turn a small lighting business into an Illinois leader.