Page 27 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - May 2016

Joan Kleinberg

Founder of Elements at Home, Long Island, NY

have worked very hard to gain recognition in our
elds and the men have become be er about ac-

knowledging us as equals.

wHat do you tHink Has been tHe key to
your success?

My key to success has been my family. We have

been a “lighting” family since the day I married
Abe. We have four children, three of them in the

lighting industry. Brian, my second son, has taken

my business to a higher level. We have an ex-
tremely large showroom, and when he entered the

business we expanded from lighting to a “lifestyle”
How did you enter tHe business?
showroom.

My rst career was as a rst grade teacher on Long I also had a very good teacher, my husband Abe.

Island, but I le teaching when I became pregnant. He taught me that having the best work ethic and R
I enjoyed raising four children as a stay-at-home doing hard work pays o . My children Brad and E
L
mom, but when my last child entered rst grade I Nancy have joined him at Crystorama, while my I
became a li le restless. Coincidently, at this time oldest son, Steven, chose the music industry; it A
T
my husband, Abe Kleinberg (founder of the light- gives our family a li le variety.
E
R
ing manufacturing company Crystorama) asked if I Brian and I have had the huge honor of being
could assist in his o ce while his assistant was out nominated ve times for the ARTS Awards for
|
[for some time] with an illness. Upon her return, best Lighting Fixture Manufacturer, and we won
I asked if I could have a small retail space in his the award three times. That really was a pinnacle D
N
showroom to sell his merchandise — and the rest of success for Elements at Home.
E

is history!
G
wHat do you know now tHat you wisH E
L
wHat are some of tHe biggest cHanges you knew wHen you started?
you’ve seen?
When I started Elements at Home, it was an un-

Our industry has witnessed several big changes known. I wasn’t a “business” person and everything

during the 42 years I have been privileged to was new. What I truly recognize now, however, is
participate in the lighting business. The biggest that I chose wisely to enter the home furnishings

personal challenge I have faced is the computer. If eld. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with so
the future of my business relied on my computer many wonderful and exciting people. It has been a

skills, I would have been in trouble! Fortunately wonderful experience.

my son Brian, and many of our employees, brought
Elements into the computer era.
wHat do you tHink tHe future Holds for

The second challenge has been the invention you and for elements?
of the Internet. When I entered the business, if Now that my son Brian is running the majority of

you worked very hard and surrounded yourself the company,I have had the pleasure of directing

with competent associates, you had an excel- my e orts to the parts of the business I enjoy the
lent chance of becoming successful. Today we most — buying. I continue to visit the major mar-

are competing with the “electronic ghost” and it kets four times a year and I am as excited today
seems to in ltrate our daily lives. We have trained as when I rst visited many years ago. Due to the

our sta to be very aware of our clients’ needs and wonderful organization we have surrounding us, I

we strive to make their Elements at Home experi- have taken more time o to participate in the lives
ence a happy one that encourages future visits.
of my 12 grandchildren. I must say, that’s the best.

We wonder if there will be future Kleinbergs and
The nal change is the recognition of women

in our industry as well on the world scene. W Lono my aughter’s family) in our industry
as
e
s(
d
!

May 2016 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 25