Page 26 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - May 2016

Troy Lee

President of Savoy House

children; it’s become a disposable society. Con-

sumers will totally change out their room décor
every few years, and for that reason we have to

stay on top of current trends and watch those

price points carefully.
Lighting styles have always followed furniture

trends, but even that has accelerated. Where
once lighting would have lagged several years be-

hind furniture trends, now it’s one year or less. We

are more fashion-oriented and value-driven than
we ever have been before.

Another change I’ve observed is the end of
R
How did you enter tHe industry?
specialized businesses. When I rst got into light-
E
I grew up working in my grandfather’s store (Pro- ing, there were companies that focused on crystal
R
Ugressive Lighting) in Atlanta. From the time I was or a speci c niche. Now everyone has become a
T12 years old, I’d be in the showroom part-time dur- melting pot, broadening their product range to be
C
ing summer and school breaks. There was never everything to everyone.
Aa question that I wanted to be in the lighting in-
F
Udustry as a career. I just loved the fashion aspect wHat Has been tHe key to your success?

Nof the industry, and talking with the lighting reps I inherited a strong work ethic and perseverance
Aand the customers who’d come in. I experienced from my parents. So o en people will tell you
M
working in the warehouse, hanging xtures on the something can’t be done, but you should follow
showroom oor, and even assembling xtures.
your dreams.
|
When I was in high school, my senior project
DwHat do you know now tHat you wisH
Ninvolved demonstrating the entire process of
creating and selling a lighting xture. My father you knew wHen you first started out?
E
Garranged for me to meet manufacturers in New Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I can’t
EYork and California, and I chose components from imagine going to work in any other industry. What

LIgmor Crystal and built a crystal chandelier. I was impresses me is how you can make such a big im-

just tickled to be able to sell it in our store!
pact in this industry just by ge ing involved with
All along the way, I was fortunate to have a lot organizations like the American Lighting Associa-

of nice people helping me in my career. I studied tion. That’s especially exciting for a young person
Business, Economics, and Art History in college to be able to make a noticeable di erence (and

and learned dra ing skills from lighting designer make a name for themselves) so quickly; that

Federico Martinez in Spain.
doesn’t happen in other industries.

wHat are some of tHe cHanges you’ve wHat do you tHink tHe future Holds for
seen?
ligHting retail?

There are so many changes that have occurred in I think that lighting showrooms will continue to

di erent areas of the industry. For example, the remain an important part of the consumer’s buy-
advent of China and the Paci c Rim [as manufac- ing process. Brick-and-mortar stores will never

turing resources]. We’ve also seen the popularity go away, especially with lighting technology be-
of various mediums, such as resin, over the years.
coming more complicated. Therefore it’s vital to

Lighting styles also change more frequently. train showroom personnel, using the certi cation

Years ago, a lighting style might last 15 or 20 years, process o ered by the ALA, so that they can edu-
but now they are being updated every two years cate our customers and help them make informed

or so. Today’s younger consumers don’t want decisions. We also have to stay current with the
to hang onto lighting xtures to pass onto their
home fashion trends while o ering the best value.

24 enLIGHTenment Magazine | May 2016
www.enlightenmentmag.com