Page 66 - Lighting Magazine October 2019

sMall spaces arE big
“I encourage showrooms to ask a lot more questions than they would for traditional spaces.” —Melissa Leib
PersonaLIze tHe sPace
Davenport’s mission is to create a space, home, and design that reflects each customer’s taste. “We work very hard to make clients feel at home from the beginning,” she explains. “We ask a lot of questions and ask them to communicate their vi- sion with us through their Pinterest boards. When they come to our studio, part of our presenta- tion is having their favorite coffee or beverage/ food, their favorite flowers on the table, their favorite music in the background. It puts clients in their comfort zone right away and gives them confidence that we know what they need in their design project. So when we start introducing things outside of their comfort zone, they feel more comfortable with our ideas.”
Before making any design decisions, Davenport encourages clients to live in their space for at least six months. That time period allows homeowners to understand the natural light patterns that occur and how they really want to use their space.
“Our job isn’t just to create fabulous designs for clients — it’s also to educate them,” she says. “They are making an investment in their home that will improve their overall well-being. It’s a com- plete mood-changer from being in a space that is dated, dirty, and sometimes empty.”
Even though these areas are small in com- parison to the overall floor plan, they can play a significant role in the clients’ enjoyment in their homes. “I tell them if they’re going to spend any time at all in a space, it needs to be appointed and designed with care and effort,” Davenport remarks. “Showrooms, too, will be most success- ful when their clients understand that all spaces in their homes are important and deserve time, effort, and attention to detail.” 
MEET THE PROS
64 enLIGHTenment Magazine | october 2019
www.enlightenmentmag.com
MELISSA LEIB
elissa Leib was born into the lighting business, when her father (Herb) was vice president of a lighting manufacturer. She grew
up putting catalogs together and stamping them for mailing. After
graduating from the University of California-Davis with a double-major in Economics and Art History, she took a position at Macy’s where she was asked to join their management training program, but the allure of a different culture took her to Japan. She spent two years in that country, learning to speak fluent Japanese and earning a master’s certificate in feng shui.
Meanwhile in the U.S., her dad had formed a rep agency (Herb Leib & Associates) and its success led to an invitation for his daughter to join him in the business. She began working with her dad in 1994, sharing 10 years together before his passing in 2004.
“It was very special for me to work with my dad,” she shares. “He was such a nice man and well-liked by people in the lighting industry. He taught me how to be a business person and a sales person. He didn’t just want to write orders; in the days before the internet, he was a true resource for the many people who would come to him with questions.”
Another significant influence was Hinkley CEO Rick Wiedemer, who recently died following a tragic accident. “I met Rick when I was in col- lege, so he has been someone I’ve been able to turn to for virtually my entire career,” she notes. “In fact, after my dad’s death, he helped me make the decision to change the agency’s name to Leib & Associates. Over the years, he would often ask my opinion about designs and what I believed would be the next trends. And I would ask his advice on running a business, expanding my networking, and thinking about other potential income streams.”
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