We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Naldoven Seizeme a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Naldoven, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Yeah, so the idea for my business really started way back in middle school. Every year, my parents would decorate our house for Christmas, and when my dad eventually decided he didn’t want to go up on the ladder anymore, I volunteered to take over. That moment lit something in me. I loved it. I loved the process, the creativity, and more than anything, the reactions from neighbors and friends. People would slow down when they passed our house, kids would smile, and I just knew this was something special.

But as the years went on, I also started noticing something that frustrated me. Every year, we were rebuying lights. The stuff from big-box stores like Home Depot or Walmart would break after one season, and the quality just wasn’t there. I thought to myself, why do families have to deal with this every year? There’s got to be a better way. That’s when the business idea started forming, but I didn’t have the confidence or truly understand how to start a business.

Fast forward a few years later, I was working full-time at Chick-fil-A, learning about leadership, systems, and customer service, and I realized those lessons could pair perfectly with my passion for lighting. Then something happened that changed everything. The owner of the store asked me if I could install holiday lights for the restaurant. I wasn’t sure if I could, but I said yes. That night, I went home and started learning everything I could through YouTube. I dove in deep, studying how to do professional-grade holiday lighting.

A few days later, we bought the lights, and I found myself on the roof of Chick-fil-A, installing my first professional display. That Thanksgiving weekend, we lit up the store for the first time, and I was in love. Everything looked perfect, and the joy it brought was unforgettable. That was the moment it all clicked for me. I knew this was what I was meant to do.

From there, I started advertising & doing installs! and it grew into something much bigger than I imagined. It wasn’t just about lights. It was about helping families create joyful memories without the stress. I took the leap, started Yule Love Lights, and never looked back.

What made me feel like this was a worthwhile path was the emotional impact. I saw people light up, literally and figuratively, and I realized that while a lot of people offer lighting, not everyone offers care. We weren’t just putting up lights.

Naldoven, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, my name is Naldoven Seizeme and I’m 23 years old. I’m the founder and owner of Yule Love Lights, a holiday, architectural, and event lighting company based on Long Island. What started as a passion project in middle school has now grown into a full-service lighting company that brings joy to hundreds of homes and businesses every year!

Yule Love Lights offers full-service lighting solutions including:

Holiday Lighting: Design, installation, maintenance, takedown, and storage.

Architectural/Permanent Lighting: Custom, year-round programmable lighting for homes and businesses.

Event Lighting: Weddings, corporate events, community celebrations, and more.

Landscape Lighting: Design, installation, maintenance that brighten up the landscape of your home or business all year round!

What sets us apart is the experience we create, not just the lights themselves. We’re CLIPA Certified & fully insured! We handle every detail so our clients never have to touch a ladder or worry if their display will hold up through the season or year-round!. We don’t just sell lighting, we help people celebrate life with light.

We’ve had the honor of working with local businesses like Chick-fil-A and Marriott Hotels, and we’ve built strong ties in the community, including partnerships with groups like the Belmont Lake Civic Association. Giving back is a huge part of our identity, from donating free installs to families in need, to lighting up homes for seniors and families battling illness.

To anyone learning about me or Yule Love Lights for the first time, I want you to know this: We don’t just hang lights. We build experiences. We make memories. And we’re here to help you shine not just for the holidays, but all year long.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely. For me, one of the biggest pivots in my life happened when I realized that school just wasn’t for me. I struggled in the classroom from a young age and always found it hard to stay engaged. I ended up going to college for about three years, falling asleep in class and feeling miserable. I failed the same class three times in a row. That’s when it hit me: lectures and traditional classroom learning weren’t how I learned best, and I wasn’t passionate about it.

While I was in college, I worked as a debt collector. Then COVID hit. I was stuck working from home, which only made things worse. I felt unmotivated and disconnected. After dropping out, I realized I needed something more active — something where I could interact with people and work with my hands. That’s when I found Chick-fil-A.

I started as a team member and immediately fell in love with the culture, the pace, and the opportunity to grow. I gave it everything I had. Over the past four years, I worked my way up from team member to Director. That shift, from struggling in college to finding purpose in a completely different environment, changed everything for me. It helped me discover what I’m truly passionate about and unlocked the drive that powers everything I do today.

People are incredibly important to me, and that’s what I realized at Chick-fil-A. If I’m helping others grow and growing alongside them, I can make an impact — not just on their lives, but on my own. And that’s what drives me every single day.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One thing I’ve learned through my journey, especially from my time working at Chick-fil-A, is the importance of building a brand that lasts. Chick-fil-A isn’t just known for great food. It’s known for how it makes people feel. Guests connect with the brand because of the consistency, the care, and the overall experience. That always stood out to me, and it’s something I’ve carried into everything I do with Yule Love Lights.

From the very beginning, I knew that building a brand was about more than just putting up lights. It was about creating something memorable, something that people recognize and trust. That’s why I made the decision early on to invest in the brand, from branded uniforms and wrapped vehicles to how we show up on job sites and how we leave customers feeling. Whether we’re lighting a home or a hotel, the experience matters.

People care about brands. They remember how you made them feel, what your crew looked like, and how professional your setup was. Building a strong brand takes time, energy, and consistency, and it’s much easier to lose a reputation than it is to build one. That’s why I make it a point to live the brand every single day. If you see me out in the community, there’s a good chance I’m wearing Christmas shoes, holiday socks, or a festive suit, no matter the season. It’s who I am, and it’s what I want people to associate with Yule Love Lights: joy, professionalism, and heart.

It’s also why I’ve challenged myself to attend 100 networking events this year and give away lights to families in need. Whether it’s supporting local causes or partnering with groups like the Belmont Lake Civic Association, I want people to know that we’re not just here to profit during the holidays. We’re here to give back, spread cheer, and be part of the community. For me, building a brand that lasts isn’t just about recognition. It’s about impact. It’s about showing up, doing the right thing, and making people smile all year long.

Building a brand that lasts is one of my biggest priorities, and I truly believe it’s the foundation for long-term success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yulelovelights.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yulelovelights/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yulelovelights/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naldoven-seizeme-a30615199/