Page 40 - Lighting Magazine - August 2013

Blown AwAy

Whats Up in consumer. Overall, the industry is well aware of
this, so maybe there has been less emphasis at
market. The consumer message from manufactur-
Ceiling Fans? ers, retailers, and the ALA should be that when
properly utilized, ceiling fans save a lot of energy
and money! Let me repeat: when properly utilized
ceiling fans save a lot of energy and money. In
time, with improved DC technology and pricing,
Tom and Nathan Frampton of more and more models will beneft.

Fanimation answer some of EM: What are some of the other developments
in ceiling fan design lately?
enLIGHTenment magazines Nathan Frampton: Were seeing a trend toward
sleeker designs, more compact motor housings,
burning questions. and fnishes that complement interior décor styles
like Brushed Nickel, Black, and Mate White. There
is also a demand for a variety of fan diameters; the
days of only ofering a 52-inch diameter are over.
EnLIGHTenment Magazine: There has been a lot
of atention paid to DC-powered ceiling fans, EM: A lot of fans ofer limited lifetime warran-
but they haven t taken of at retail. Was the ties and don t break ofen. When it comes to
market ready? the replacement market, what are some good
Tom Frampton: Where appropriate, we have and selling points?
will continue to add models utilizing this technol- NF: Weve done a lot of research that shows the
ogy. At this point in time, DC is beter suited for majority of residential homes in the U.S. have at
higher-end designs or units with larger blade least one ceiling fan. This means there are literally
diameters. The higher cost of DC would put many, millions of fan sales opportunities out there. I
if not most, models out of reach of the average think the key is to start the conversation about
the customers personal style and interior décor.
It doesn t make sense for them to spend hun-
dreds of dollars upgrading their chandeliers, wall
sconces, and table lamps only to leave their ceiling
fan untouched. That basic brass builder fan thats
been on their ceiling since 1980? Yep, its gota
go. Its not really about the lifespan of an average
ceiling fan, but how the right ceiling fan perfectly
complements the overall home design.
Model FPS7967WH by Fanimation
EM: A lot of model homes display small ceiling
fans in walk-in closets, laundry rooms, and
porches. Have you seen the demand for those
Were seeing a trend toward sleeker special sizes (small and wet-location) growing?
NF: Weve seen a prety steady demand for our
designs, more compact motor housings, 42-inch Cancun fan since its release in 2012 and
believe that smaller-diameter fans will continue
and fnishes that complement interior to grow in popularity in large cities where people
décor styles like Brushed Nickel, Black, typically live in smaller homes, condos, and
apartments.

and Mate White. Nathan Frampton EM: What are the most common mistakes that
consumers make when choosing a ceiling fan?
TF: Consumers ofen fail to select the right size

38 enLIGHTenment Magazine | august 2013 www.enlightenmentmag.com