Hidden Gems: Meet Bayan Kabbani of Lights Up Today

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bayan Kabbani.

Hi Bayan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I have always been an entrepreneur since I was a kid. At about 11 years old, I began creating opportunities to earn income; I would sell Ice-cold lemonade in the hot summer months, I would detail cars in Manhattan Beach on the weekends when I wasn’t at school, wash windows, mow lawns, collect and sell shoes, I even sold Pokémon cards (wow I’m old)… 

I started a holiday lighting business with my brothers at 15 years old which was just considered a side hustle at the time while I was still in high school. I learned so much in a short time from the many mistakes we made! 

After high school, I went on to graduate college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications where I worked in New York for Viacom, CNBC, and Fox News as a Production Assistant but I still wasn’t sold on working long hours for a big corporation in New York. So, I moved back to LA and really focused on scaling and fine-tuning my holiday light company, and that is where I learned (from trial and error) what it takes to run a real business. 

From starting off decorating local residential properties in the beach cities, we slowly started landing bigger clients like (Lebron James, Mariah Carey, Charlize Theron, and Wiz Khalifa) and commercial projects for companies like (Google, Apple, Old Navy, Sketchers, and TBS). 

To be successful in any line of work, you have to love what you do and stay consistent. Nothing great comes easy. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing good comes easy. I have made a lot of mistakes in the process of building a company in an industry that was very unknown at the time. 

From buying the wrong materials for the job, underestimating job costs, being short-staffed, spending too much on ineffective advertising or too little on effective advertising, and budgeting struggles, I’ve come a long way, but I’m grateful because I’ve learned from all the mistakes made and turned them into strength for the business. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Lights Up Today. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Lights Up Today was started with a simple concept: to offer the best outdoor and indoor lighting/decor services to our clients. Unlike most “pop-up” holiday lighting businesses, we bring an artistic approach to our lighting designs, we’re fully licensed/insured, we use only commercial-grade LED products, we have dedicated account managers for our clients, and we are accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Lights Up Today also donates a portion of our proceeds to children in need of food/toys during the holidays, and we believe children are the future, so we need to make sure we do our part for them. 

Most of the industry now is filled with franchise lighting contractors who pump out mediocre, cookie-cutter designs through franchise owners with little or no creative talent. The customer service of many holiday lighting companies is almost non-existent and unprofessional/unreliable. 

We take the time to inspect our client’s outdoor spaces, landscaping, and architectural elements before suggesting design options. We then analyze how we can design these spaces with light. By using different fixtures, bulbs, and unique lighting positioning, we maximize the lighting effect, resulting in beautiful home displays and landscaping after dark. Our process is seamless, responsive, and professional. 

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Taking big risks is always a factor in running a business. It’s part of the excitement and stress! It is absolutely mandatory to take risks when running a successful business because that’s what it takes to grow and learn what works. I have taken huge investment risks, turned down generous offers to buy out my company, and dedicated valuable time away from family/friends for an unknown outcome and surely unguaranteed outcome, and I would do it again. 

The biggest risk is not taking any risk. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lightsuptoday.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lightsuptoday/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightsUpTodayLA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anybkK-wRwA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lights-up-today-manhattan-beach
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3FkJob3uSnAa8Fcv7

Image Credits
@BaynoShootsLA