Lighting with Lisa: The Lighting Podcast

Navigating the shifting tides of the lighting industry is no small feat, and as I peer into the rearview mirror of the past year, I'm struck by our collective resilience. Even as we missed the zenith of success from previous years, there's a spark of optimism for what 2024 holds, despite the perplexing economic signals and the shadow of an election year. In a candid sharing of my journey...

If you noticed there was no LWL episode last week, it is because I was mid-implementation of NetSuite with not an ounce of energy to spare. Listen now for an update on our process PLUS a great listener tip that I elaborate on to drive add-on services (and a much needed margin boost and competitive advantage) for your showroom. What add-ons does your showroom provide? Let me know! Thank you to Zast...

Are you weary of cookie-cutter content and impersonal posts that are plaguing your social media experience? Do you feel like the lighting industry is lagging behind in effectively harnessing social media's full potential? Yeah, I am too. So heading into 2024, let's rethink our approach, identify our end goals, and shake things up a bit to tap into the enormous potential of this digital p...

It's time once again to plan your holiday gifts for your best customers and staff too. This year, let's challenge the autopilot mode most of us fall into during the holiday season, and let's question if our annual gifts to clients and employees are truly expressing our sentiments of appreciation and thanks. This episode promises to provide a fresh perspective on how to make meaningf...

Facing challenges in your business? A storm of one's own making or something external? Me too. I'm opening up in this episode about my recent work life (and complete lack of balance) in an effort to make us all feel a little less alone. Sharing is indeed caring. Also, it's vital we talk about our individual as well as industry-wide challenges in a non-confrontational and positive ma...

When was the last time you were a customer in your own business? Not as an expert in what you do but as a true never-before-visited customer?  This episode talks it through and highlights the importance of excellent service and how our immersion in the professional sphere can often lead to a disconnect with the consumer's experience. Can you pinpoint areas ready for improvement; and is it may...

Brace yourself, as we're about to set off on an electrifying journey, illuminating the intricacies of boosting margins in the lighting industry. We'll unearth how market changes disrupted traditional pricing structures, causing a 'margin squeeze' for conventional showrooms, coupled with other industry-wide changes to the distribution landscape. But don't worry, our convers...

Today's episode highlights the challenges and potential solutions for training sales staff in the toughest category we face : lighting & fan technical expertise.  We explore the importance of effective training, discussing the balance between overwhelming information and insufficient training and how we can optimize this for maximum effectiveness. The episode takes a deep look at the diff...

Are you poised to revolutionize your lighting showroom with the power of data and robust ERP systems?  We'll delve into the data consistency, examining its need to keep up with the ever-evolving industry standards. Information overload or the lack thereof can be an issue, but what if you had an abundance of searchable and sortable data at your fingertips? What would productivity gains mean to...

Do you struggle with navigating Saturday staffing and hours for your lighting showroom? Dive into the evolution of my own lighting showroom and our journey with Saturday hours. We'll also delve into the challenges and rewards that come with managing a showroom in the residential lighting & fan industry. From the strategic decisions that led to my merchandising changes to the ever-evolving...

As the Lighting Showroom Association chapter draws to a close, there is much to celebrate. We've had an enriching six-year journey, creating a legacy with our interactive 3D model and augmented reality program, which is set to expand even further in the coming months. We've built this unique platform thanks to countless members and volunteers, and as we close one chapter, we look forward...

A quick Lightovation recap + an extended discussion of the things I learned in the panel discussion for lighting showrooms on how to sell to the design trade. And I'm pleased to announce it was very informative and encouraging!  Season One of the Light Files podcast has reached its conclusion -- please share with me your feedback and thoughts for what comes next!   Fixture Finder Lighting Job...

There has been a lot of chatter in our podcast community this past week, focused a lot on sales channels, margins, and our dreaded "race to the bottom" in pricing policies.  I've also been asked several times about the general state of sales in our industry for 2023.  In this episode, I piece together as much information as I can on all of the above and share the heartfelt showroom...

I wanted to take an episode to talk about a big positive and a ongoing negative in our lighting + fan industry.  I won't spoil the peach/pit (or rose/thorn if you prefer) here, so take a listen, share with a colleague and let me know if you agree with my assessment or not.  And if you don't -- what is your peach/pit for our industry?  Where am I getting it wrong?  Can't wait to hear...

Being an entrepreneur isn't for the faint of heart, as y'all well know, and there are definite moments of stress, worry, and fear that can paralyze you and your business. What do you do when you feel your business is ready to add on a new revenue stream but you don't want to jeopardize your ongoing work? How do you push yourself to step forward when the fear to stay where you are is...

This episode is another "grab bag" of various topics -- from technology to improve shopping experiences, an ill conceived New York magazine article on LEDs, and a service that makes it easy for designers to have access to all kinds of brands -- I review all of the latest odds and ends that have been on my list to discuss.  Be sure to share your thoughts and tell a friend about the podcas...

We all make them and so often they seem innocuous. But assumptions are a silent killer to the forward momentum of any business or industry. Bits of information shared by even the most trusted colleagues are often lacking key details. But we often take these things as fact -- and we are all guilty of it. Let's a take a moment to consider the assumptions we make in our industry and why or why t...

Let's face it, finding great help for the sales positions at your lighting showroom is a tough task. In this episode, I talk through some of the challenges and tips for hiring a great staff member and how to get them on board and working successfully for your business and with your team. Have a favorite hiring tip? Be sure to send me a note/leave a comment and I'll share it on a future e...

The Light Files has made it to episode 100! That's nearly two years of podcasting, and I can hardly believe it. This super-sized episode is a discussion of how we got here and where we are going now -- as a podcast, as the LSA, and the lighting industry as whole. There's a lot to discuss here, and while I review the many hurdles in our path, there's also light ahead and ways we can...

A few news items have come out recently that indicate shifting trends in how the lighting industry might operate in the not too distant future. I recap these news items and discuss small ways that our industry has been shifting in the past few years, right under our noses, and with almost no one noticing. I close with a discussion of consumer expectations in 2023 and how these shifts in our indust...

The January 2023 issue of Furniture, Lighting & Decor  is filled with so much great content, this episode is only the first in my discussion of what I found inside -- from ongoing reminders about the value lighting experts bring to their customers to heartening and interesting trends in consumer shopping behavior -- there is much to consider! Send your thoughts my way for the next episode: fol...

January Lightovation was last week in Dallas and this episode is my recap of the week plus some other news, information, and highlights surrounding market, product intros, and our manufacturer partners.  Fixture Finder Lighting Jobs Email Lisa

A new year means a recap episode of lessons learned in 2022! This is my top five lessons in the lighting + fan industry for 2022 -- what are yours? I conclude with my wish for 2023 for all of us. Fixture Finder Lighting Jobs Email Lisa

What is your showroom's return policy? When is the last time you even looked at or revised it? After a recent question from a customer, I updated my own return policy and took the opportunity to also take a look at the policies of other showrooms to see what is currently the "industry standard." Listen in for all the details and please let me know what works for your showroom when i...

As the leader of a small business, if there is one thing I have learned know with certainty, it is that the "work" never stops. There are always new ideas and challenges to try to anticipate, and I firmly believe that if you stop thinking about what you can do today to improve your business that the whole enterprise will stagnate and eventually disappear. But that is no easy feat! From w...