Page 10 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - September 2016

enLIGHTenment
Editor’s Note

Always Up-To-Date & Online

enLIGHTenmentmag.com

The Ba le for Control
ACE H. ROSENSTEIN
Group Publisher

ace@bravobusinessmedia.com
800.774.9861 ext. 601
I
f you’ve been to an electronics or lighting trade show recently, you
already know how fast the controls category is growing. Now besides LINDA LONGO
Editorial Director
Bluetooth and wi- , there is also li- on the horizon (li- stands for
linda@bravobusinessmedia.com
Light Fidelity and describes wireless communication that is fully net- 800.774.9861 ext. 616
worked and relies on the visual light spectrum, such as infrared, instead
MARK OKUN
of radio frequency).
Business Contributor
In short, with all of these mobile control apps and capabilities available,
mark@bravobusinessmedia.com
the point was raised during an international lighting conference I a ended that bandwidth
Contributing Writers
might eventually become too saturated to be used e ectively. This has led some companies Cindy Foster Warthen, Mike Brannon,
to explore alternatives. For example, Cree® recently debuted a POE (Power Over Ethernet) Marilyn Nason

solution called SmartCast® Technology in partnership with Cisco Systems.
Controls aren’t just about turning lights on/o , dimming, and timers anymore — and the
SIMONE TIEBER
areas of the home that are incorporating controls are growing. In the o ce sector, daylight Creative Director
simone@bravobusinessmedia.com
harvesting has steadily increased year over year and a large portion of that sector deals with
shade operation. Naturally, that has become bundled into the building’s controls as well as JASON LOWSY

any mobile phone apps. While the residential industry hasn’t utilized these daylighting prod- Production Manager
ucts, you’ll notice in the News section of this issue there are two control companies (Legrand jason@bravobusinessmedia.com

and Lutron) partnering with patio and shade manufacturers to do just that.
LILLIAN ANDERSON
Publication Coordinator
When customers come to your showroom seeking guidance on the latest lighting solutions,
don’t let the conversation end with LED technology. Controls are not only becoming more lillian@bravobusinessmedia.com
800.774.9861 ext 608
important to homeowners and light commercial speci ers, but they can become a lucrative
portion of your revenue stream.

Right now, there is no standardization in the controls industry regarding the ideal protocol JEFF DOCTOROW
Business Development
— and each method has its pluses and minuses. Until a consensus is reached, what’s important je @bravobusinessmedia.com
is to be aware of the di erent types of communication technology available for your custom-
800-774-9861 ext. 618
ers. You might have to o er several types in order to best suit your customers’ needs. This
will involve a longer selling process as you educate your customers about what is involved DEBBIE SCHWARTZ
Sales Associate
without overwhelming them. This extra time you spend will not be wasted; it will fall under debbie@bravobusinessmedia.com

relationship-building and will earn the customers’ trust in your business over the long-term.
MARY VALLE
Selling lighting these days has never been more complicated. On a positive note, these
Sales Associate
more sophisticated systems are helping to elevate the industry above the commodity level — mary@bravobusinessmedia.com
and that means potentially more business at higher dollar amounts for everyone. It is my hope 800-774-9861 ext. 682

that this issue o ers insightful content to help you prepare for the next frontier in lighting.

EDWARD FREBOWITZ
Social Media Director

ed@bravobusinessmedia.com

BRIAN MICHALOVIC
Technical Development
brian@bravobusinessmedia.com

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the lighting content leader voL 6 | Issue 9 | sepTember 2016
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LUCY MASSE
septem
Audience Development
ber 2016
Subscribe to the digital version of our magazine lucy@bravobusinessmedia.com
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