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Batten House Podcast
Batten House Podcast
Batten House Podcast
Ep 5 Shining a Light on Entrepreneurship and Community Impact
Imagine never having to climb a ladder to hang holiday lights again. That’s the kind of innovation Dan from Celebrite brings to the table, transforming a personal pet peeve into a thriving business. In this episode, we get to know Dan, the mastermind behind Celebrite's permanent holiday lighting. He takes us through his journey from repurposing Jumbotron pixels for residential lighting to managing a booming business that’s now a household name in Ottawa. You’ll hear how his creative solution addresses not just seasonal decoration but also enhances security and curb appeal, proving that convenience can be both beautiful and functional.
But there’s more to Dan than just business acumen. As we discuss his passions beyond work, we uncover the well-rounded life he leads, balancing entrepreneurship with his love for music and hockey. His story is one of empathy, resilience, and continuous learning, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Dan's leadership style, shaped by years of experience, emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of one's actions on others. With a team of 50 and counting, Dan shares how he transitioned from tinkering in his garage to making a significant community impact, encouraging our listeners to stay curious about what’s next in the world of exterior lighting.
This is the Batten House Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbours come together. Here's your host, Shawn Batten.
Speaker 2:Well, hello everyone. I am sitting here with Dan from Celebright. How you doing, Dan?
Speaker 3:I'm good Good morning Shawn.
Speaker 2:So Dan is one of our valued customers that we work with. Actually, he has an awesome product and a great story to tell. So, Dan, for our viewers, tell us a little bit about your business.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so our business is called Celebright. We've been operating in Ottawa since 2018, so we're in year eight now. We're kind of known for this product called Permanent Holiday Lighting, which takes the concept of Christmas lights, but kind of with a twist so that it goes up once, stays up year round. It's kind of invisible during the day, you can't really see it, and then at night it adds all the power of you know, app control and all these smart home features so you can have it do moving patterns and things like that. So it just adds, you know it's in the smart home ecosystem and it adds a ton of curb appeal to any house.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and I personally have seen them pop up around our neighbourhood here in Ottawa, in the West End of Ottawa, so it's pretty beautiful. I got to be honest.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's been a real journey. You know the last eight years and it's awesome to see it.
Speaker 2:You know, when you drive around at night, just seeing it up there, it gives you the good feels for sure. Well, so I know a little bit about your story, but, for our viewers, tell us about your journey. How this got started. How have you been in business about eight years now? And so tell us about your journey. How did you get going with this?
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, it started small. It was pretty low on the aspiration level. It really just stemmed from a personal problem, right Like my wife asked me to put lights up on the second story of our house one year. And you know, typically we just put them over the garage and that was it.
Speaker 1:And I wasn't super interested.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I wasn't super interested in getting up and down on that ladder twice a year to go up to the second story. So I have a background in computer engineering and construction, so I was kind of well positioned to develop this product I guess a good way to put it. And from some of my past endeavors I had relationships with some of these manufacturers that make LEDs and things like that. So I kind of cobbled together this thing using repurposed Jumbotron pixels actually kind of the pixels you'd see on a big screen in a football stadium, things like that and we repurposed that into kind of more of a residential-centric product that mounts in an aluminum track. And you know, version one wasn't super glamorous but it got the job done for us at home and I hadn't really thought of anything beyond that at the time, just like, okay, great, now I don't have to deal with it. But then people started knocking on the door and people were asking where I got it. And having been in business before, I had never really experienced tailwinds like that and it kind of was immediately obvious that we found this niche, this product that people wanted, and at the time it didn't exist. This whole concept of permanent holiday lighting wasn't a thing back in 2017 when this was happening. So I guess my spidey senses were going off and we realized we could make a go at it.
Speaker 3:I guess my spidey senses were going off and we realized we could make a go at it. So we started making a kind of prototype quality product for a few friends and family and things like that in Ottawa and it really just it took off. It was exponential growth. From day one. It felt like and it was a wonderful feeling, having experienced the complete opposite experience in a few other businesses that have tried to get off the ground in years past, where it just feels like you're always walking uphill this was just like we just had perfect market fit kind of right out of the gate and it was obviously people saw the value right, like the pain point was real and people just kind of embraced it. And then it's been, you know, ever since it's it's been eight years just kind of hanging on um, as, as we've been on this ride, it's it's been really fun and you've you've actually like moved locations a couple of times, right Cause you just, yeah, I mean that's that's our MO, we.
Speaker 3:We outgrow our space pretty much every year and a half. So we've moved a bunch of times now, uh, and it seems every time we move into a building we look at it and we're like, oh, this is going to be too big, we'll never fill this, we'll never fill this. And then, you know, a year later we're like, oh, like, we're not going to make it through the year.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So that's you know. One of the good problems to have in business is this kind of growth curve.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Well, it's neat because, as a almost customer, because we actually had you guys come out and check out our house and um, and unfortunately we need to get our um, our uh eavesdrop replaced first before we commit to uh, to to lighting. But one thing that we thought about, um was how great it will be for security, actually for us, not just holiday lights, because I know that's where you started, which is awesome, but we also have a senior living with us, and so to have the light um around um her entrance, in that case, like um, it's actually really appealing to us. Yes, the, the holiday, which where he started, which is super awesome, uh, because we're a big christmas family um, but also the added security and the, the, the, just the lighting of the path, like from with with a nice bright house. So there's actually so much more that, as a, as a customer and we've got our down payment in, we're ready to go soon that we see the value as as actual customers of yours as well. So it's, it's very exciting.
Speaker 3:It's very exciting, we, we yeah, it is, you nailed it Like it really is. Once it's up, you start realizing there's all these other use cases for it. Right, Absolutely. You know most people aren't going to get up and put up St Patty's daylights, but when it's as easy as just pressing a button, boom, you're all green and we see it around our yeah, we see it around our neighbourhood as well.
Speaker 2:It's a newer cause, you know in. Competitors pop up now and so on. Can you tell us about any myths or misconceptions you hear about your product or service industry, kind of that you've noticed over the last eight years?
Speaker 3:I mean misconceptions, not necessarily. I think maybe the biggest thing we've seen, and maybe the biggest challenge we faced in the early days, is just making people realize that it's a product at all. Right, um, most people didn't know it existed, uh. So, you know, especially for the first few years, the uh, the challenge really was was educating people, right, making people realize that this was a product that they could have and use. You know, once it got in front of people and they saw it on a house, the light you know, the metaphorical light went on in their head, right, and they're like, oh yeah, like I get it. That's awesome. They're just, you know, being a new industry, it's all about educating, right, and it's all about getting the word out that it's a thing, and obviously that's changed over the years. Now, when it's it's, it's definitely moved more mainstream and people already know that it's out there. And so now that the conversation is like well, why would I go with you versus you?
Speaker 3:know company acts or whatever right yeah, it's, it's, yeah, definitely evolved over time. Yeah, yeah, um, that's great yeah, that's so cool.
Speaker 2:So so you, you know, you, being the, the owner, and you, you clearly are extremely involved in the business what do you do for fun, like, like when, when you're not working, your business and developing and I know, I know I've got a little inside track on Celebright and I know there's stuff coming up the pipe and R&D and I'm super excited about it. Uh, what you're what you're thinking about, but uh, what do you do for fun, as as dan, as the, as the owner of a really cool Ottawa?
Speaker 3:um, um, I mean I'm I guess I'm pretty hobby heavy. I do a lot of things. I come from a background in music. My degree is actually in in music, so I still make create music and teaching my kids how to how to play their instruments now. So I'm pretty involved on that side of things. I also very, very heavily involved in the hockey community. I coach, coach two minor hockey teams and I still play myself as well. So you know those.
Speaker 3:Those are the two things that take up the bulk of my time when I'm not at work, and the brain never shuts off. There's always stuff going on as far as product development and things like that. It sounds kind of lame, but one of my favorite things to do when I go home from work is play around with electronics and work on the next thing. My role at work has shifted over the last few years. Right, like it started out with me tinkering in my garage and now there's 50 people here. So my job's more of a manager now, right? So my fun is actually getting to dig into the electronics again and play with that stuff and come up with new things.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. We should connect again at some point and talk about that life work balance that you're starting as a business that's growing and it's always like this R&D, like crazy. The growth has been awesome managing a team but then also being able to balance your family and not being absent, you know, and I love that. So we'll stay tuned for another discussion because that's. That's when we find entrepreneurs like yourself who have a successful business and they're doing some great things in the neighbourhood, which which you guys are in the community, we'd love to get back to and have a side conversation at some point about the balance you strike. So I honour you for that.
Speaker 3:That's you know yeah, I mean I'd love to talk about that no-transcript. Work and life need to coexist as opposed to have a separation. But yeah, let's, let's shelve it, and I'm happy to sit down again and really dig into that one.
Speaker 2:That's, that's awesome. I appreciate it. I'll look forward to that. So, so, as you, as you've, you know you're, you're an entrepreneur and you have been for a while and many different venues, avenues, right, and then now you've hit the and many things have shaped and many things have shaped you like, many things have shaped us all, especially as entrepreneurs? Can you describe one like hardship or life challenge that you rose above and now you can say you know what Like that really helped shape my approach, my thoughts?
Speaker 3:something like that, just something that yeah um, I've been really lucky I I've had a good life. I have a lot of support, my you know my family's super supportive. I have great, super intelligent friends, that a lot of them now work here. Um, so I I don't have, you know that, one thing. That was the total disaster, that was super formative and that my whole life has revolved around it.
Speaker 3:I think I've been shaped a lot more by lots of small things. You know, you hear a lot of entrepreneurs talk about failure and I've had my share as well. Right, like this, I've had business before that that have failed and you know those. Those are hard and and I think if you go through it with the mentality that it's a learning experience and you know, fail early, fail while you're young, and then grow from it and then move on, like you grow stronger for sure.
Speaker 3:I think probably, you know, introspectively, the biggest thing that I learned is I'm this big type A personality. I like to drive things and I tend, when I was younger you tend to be kind of oblivious about how that affects those around you and how that can have negative impact on other people's feelings and things, because you're this big kind of bull in a china shop that drives things ahead right. So I think, for me, probably the biggest thing I've learned over the years is empathy and really learning and developing the skills to understand how my actions affect those around me, and it's been pivotal, I think, in building a really strong team here with a, with a great environment. So I think I can't I can't pinpoint one specific thing that took me there. I can't pinpoint one specific thing that took me there, but all these learning experiences through the last 20 years of entrepreneurship I think empathy and really learning to harness it and how powerful it is has probably been my biggest takeaway from all those experiences put together.
Speaker 2:That's great perspective. We're partnering with a bunch of young people right now in high schools and such, and so it'll be great for them to hear a success story like yourself and and notice it doesn't need to be some catastrophic thing that changes course. Uh, but these little things along the way, and you being aware and and be able to capture those things and shift your perspective, and then, um, that's really, uh, that's good. It's good, it's great answer, dan, that that's really that's good. It's a great answer, dan. I really appreciate that, especially for our young people.
Speaker 2:What's the one thing you wish our listeners knew about your business? Someone doesn't know anything about you and they're kind of looking into the realm of exterior lighting. What's one thing that you wish they could really know about your business up front?
Speaker 3:I mean I guess it ties in with with the last question more more about like the culture and what we're about and how we try, and you know, be good stewards of the community and give back and and that like one thing. I realized this is relevant because we've just been looking at our website and things is like we don't portray that well to the outside world. How, how focused on you know, things that we would consider being like good people in general. So, you know, taking care of the environment, right, making sure we give back to the community champion causes, sure we give back to the community champion causes, like we just did a big thing for mental health where we partnered with um, you know a few of the, the foundations in the in the area. Oh you guys. So these types of things.
Speaker 2:Pardon me, sorry, I missed that you guys do so much in the community. But it's hard to talk about that on your website, to talk about yourself that way. But you you're certainly, as we've gotten to know you over the last two years, there's so much like you're such a pivotal business and culture, like the culture that you have on your staff We've seen as customers. You guys do so much in the community and so, yeah, how do you? How do you?
Speaker 3:how do you? Yeah, it's. I mean, we're also Canadian, right, so it's hard to brag about stuff too, right? So, um, you know, not, not that bragging is maybe the right word, but but I think, when, when people are shopping, especially with everything that's going on in the us right now, and this push to to buy canadian right like another, another decision making thing that people can use when they're buying is, like you know, do I want to work with a company that has, you know, good, good values and like treats their employees well?
Speaker 3:Right, like we're part of this thing called a living wage program, so this is like a third party that you know examines the cost of living and makes you know they kind of dictate, like, okay, this is what a living wage is, so we ensure, you know, we pay every employee at least that, right. So, like there's these things that you know we want to be responsible humans and and I think you know, if people knew that about us, they'd they'd feel more comfortable doing business with us, right. Like we're ethically strong, we're above board, right. Like we know we, you know, you know we got your back in any kind of situation Right, so you know, know, if someone could take it one takeaway that that would probably be what I would like them to know about us.
Speaker 2:That's great. I yeah, I didn't know that. That's uh. Sounds like another uh discussion. We need to have um. So to wrap up, how can listeners learn more and contact or stop by your, your company? I know you have a showroom.
Speaker 3:Um, yeah, you know, I mean most people don't shop at showrooms anymore, they do it on the internet. But yeah, we're available online at celebrateca. We do have a showroom in Canada. Feel free to come by anytime. It's on Edgewater street near Terry Fox and Hazel Dean.
Speaker 2:And behind the tents.
Speaker 3:That's it. Yep, yeah, I mean half of you are probably there anyways, so it's just another half a block down, Absolutely Good. But yeah, I mean those are probably the easiest way Pick up the phone. I mean that's one thing we're proud of too. When you call us, you don't get some robot. We, we answer the phone, right. So, um, it's just those little things. We try and make every customer experience positive. That's, uh, start to finish through through the whole process, and you know, answer your questions is one of the ways you can do that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Well. Listen, I know you're a busy entrepreneur, dad, coach, friend, all these things. Thanks so much for your time and spending some time with us and we're looking forward to talking to you again.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the Batten House Podcast. To nominate a favorite local business to be featured on the show, go to battenhousepodcastca.
