Page 68 - Lighting Magazine October 2018

retail spotlight
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Members of the Idlewood Electric team (and a few customers) assembled for a group photo.
Having a separate room for lighting consultants to go over plans with clients has been espe- cially helpful in giving a entive service.
could be found at Idlewood Electric, absorbing knowledge about lighting and controls manufac- turers while providing great customer service. By 1985, Lansing decided she wanted to make light- ing her career and joined her father’s company full-time.
When raising her three daughters, however, she never made them feel as if joining the family business was expected. “My kids were never into it when they were growing up,” Lansing states. Instead, they took jobs elsewhere that aligned with their interests. For example, one daughter
graduated college with a degree in Marketing and landed positions in network TV at Oprah and Rosie, both of which lmed in Chicago. Her young- est daughter is a skilled social media strategist who currently works for the renowned business networking site LinkedIn.
“They had to make the choice that [Idlewood] was what they wanted. I feel that if they chose to do it, then that would empower them to be suc- cessful,” Lansing remarks. Sure enough, two of her daughters are now on board full-time, making Idle- wood Electric a third-generation, female-owned and -operated company. The business is (Women’s Business Enterprise) WBE-certi ed, a distinction Lansing is particularly proud of given that the electrical supply category has historically been predominantly male. “While the E.D. side can be more challenging as a woman, if you have talent, I think it’s easier to stand out,” she remarks. Earning electricians’ and contractors’ respect is just one of her accomplishments.
Over the past six decades, the business has ourished — leading to multiple expansions at its agship in Highland Park as well as opening ad- ditional showrooms in Barrington and Chicago. As CEO, Lansing oversees all three locations and can ably di erentiate the needs of each store’s clientele.
One of the keys to Idlewood’s success is Lan- sing’s open-mindedness. “We o er a li le bit of everything,” she says. “I’m not afraid to step forward and try something.” Being willing to take small risks does not imply impulsiveness, however. “A lot of people depend on me, so I try to make good business moves,” she a rms.
It certainly helps to have a reliable and talented Showroom Manager, such as lighting showroom veteran Pat Bunting, to keep the Idlewood crew on track and on trend. “We have a solid, knowledgeable sta ; they’re not order-takers,” Bunting points out. Indeed, longevity is another area Idlewood employees have in common. Not only has one saleswoman, Adrienne, been with the showroom for 40 years, but many others have decades-long tenure at Idlewood — including Bunting, whose years of lighting experience also includes time at another lighting store.
“Most people feel part of the fold,” Lansing comments. “We treat them like family and make them feel empowered. We hold regular show- room meetings where we ask what [product] they
64 enLIGHTenment Magazine | october 2018
www.enlightenmentmag.com