American Christmas By Mk Illumination
- Founded
- 1968-01-01 in New York metro area
- Headquarters
- 30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, USA
American Christmas by MK Illumination is a premier provider of large-scale holiday and festive lighting décor in the United States, serving as the US representative of the global MK Illumination group. Founded in 1968 by Marvin Schwam as an offshoot of an artificial plant and flower business, the company has evolved into a full-service design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance firm for commercial Christmas displays. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic holiday installations in the country—such as the Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens Angels, Saks Fifth Avenue’s window displays, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular—making it a household name in the industry. After nearly three decades of family leadership under CEO Fred Schwam, the company was acquired by MK Illumination in 2017, providing access to a global network of over 1,200 employees and six factories. Based in Mount Vernon, New York, with a 110,000-square-foot facility, American Christmas employs approximately 70 full-time staff and operates two divisions: its core commercial holiday décor service and a retail arm called Christmas in America.
Detailed Review
History & Origins
American Christmas traces its beginnings to 1968, when Marvin Schwam, an artist and entrepreneur, started selling artificial plants and flowers. Recognizing an opportunity to offer Christmas decorating services for those plants, he formally launched American Christmas as a holiday décor company. Schwam’s creative vision quickly gained traction, and by the 1980s the business had built a reputation for elaborate commercial displays. In 1988, Fred Schwam, Marvin’s son, took control and served as CEO for nearly 30 years, driving significant growth and discipline. The company became synonymous with premium holiday lighting in New York City and beyond.
Acquisition by MK Illumination
A chance meeting between Fred Schwam and MK Illumination CEO Klaus Mark at the Christmasworld trade show in Frankfurt in 2012 sparked a business relationship and eventual friendship. In October 2017, MK Illumination—a global leader in festive lighting founded in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1996—acquired American Christmas. The acquisition expanded MK Illumination’s US footprint and gave American Christmas access to a worldwide network of 40 offices, six factories, and two warehouses, with over 1,200 employees (including the ~70 at the Mount Vernon site). The parent company also owns Universal Statues LLC, Christmas in America LLC, and Lumagica LLC in the US.
Operations & Services
American Christmas offers turnkey, end-to-end holiday décor solutions for commercial clients. Its process typically spans 12 months per project and includes design & development, manufacturing & assembly, distribution & installation, and removal, refurbishment & storage. The company’s hallmark is “white glove service,” handling every detail from initial idea to final installation. Notable projects include the Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens Angels, Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship holiday displays, and the Water Street Tampa complex. Clients span retail stores, building lobbies, corporate headquarters, hotels, malls, lifestyle centers, casinos, and commercial real estate firms.
Divisions & Brands
The core commercial holiday décor division, American Christmas, provides custom festive lighting and decoration for public spaces, corporate businesses, shopping centers, and hotels. The retail division, Christmas in America, offers commercial-grade and residential holiday decorations for direct purchase and includes a showroom “Holiday Lane” at the Mount Vernon facility, with all proceeds donated to local charities (over $150,000 raised to date).
Physical Presence
Headquarters are at 30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, a 110,000 sq. ft. facility. A Mid-Atlantic office is located at 8403 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, MD 20781. The company's website is available at www.americanchristmas.com.
Key Products
American Christmas (Commercial Holiday Décor Division)
Full-service design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of large-scale holiday lighting and festive décor for commercial clients including retail chains, hotels, malls, casinos, and corporate headquarters.
Christmas in America (Retail Division)
Retail arm offering commercial-grade and residential holiday decorations for direct purchase, with a showroom 'Holiday Lane' at the Mount Vernon facility and proceeds donated to local charities.
Offices & Headcount
70 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
Dan CasterellaChief Executive Officer