The Essex location of The Christmas Decorators has been decorating the county’s roads and houses with thousands of festive lights for the latest McDonald’s television advert.

The advert features a large team of Santas furiously cycling away to get to their local McDonald’s and indulge in their special limited edition holiday season treats.


Trevor Grinsted from The Christmas Decorators has been running the Essex branch of the festive decorating franchise for the past year. He said: “It was great fun installing the Christmas lights for the advert, and our team were all very proud to watch the final result of our work on national TV. That kind of thing doesn’t happen every day.”

It took Grinsted and his team two full days in total to prepare the shoot’s festive backdrop, including installing over 5,000 white lights on a roundabout. He added: “It was a big undertaking, but what a great business opportunity during our first year in business.”

A former retail manager, Grinsted was looking to open a franchise as a new challenge when he first came across The Christmas Decorators last year. After realising the potential it had, he quickly signed up to take on the regional branch, and one year in, it’s proving one of the best decisions he’s ever made.


Grinsted is also currently studying to become an accountant and hopes to take his final exams early next year so that he can be better prepared to develop all aspects of his new business venture. He said: “Whether it’s choosing colour schemes, putting up decorations or managing the books I enjoy everything about Christmas decorating. I have learnt so much this past year and my motto is that you can do anything you put your mind to.”

Published: 13 December 2011

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