Lighting showrooms are constantly facing new challenges. With ever-evolving technology, Internet retailers and big box stores, it can be difficult to stay ahead of the competition.

This is exactly what the Lights Fantastic team had in mind while developing the concept for the Lights Fantastic Pro showroom; a new showroom dedicated to leading and inspiring the design community, builders, contractors, developers and owners through the LED Revolution by showing them how "rethinking lighting" for their residential and commercial projects will forever change the way they use lighting.

The Lights Fantastic team believes LED is truly a revolution in lighting, and they do not use that term lightly. Jon Sayah, president of Lights Fantastic, explains, "We believe that there have been two other major revolutions in lighting, first being the invention of fire, and second, the Edison bulb. If we believe LED is truly a revolution, how is this going to change how we do business? Maybe it requires a whole new lighting showroom and a whole new way of selling lighting." With that in mind, Lights Fantastic set out to create something different: a new type of showroom.

Rethink Lighting

The team at Lights Fantastic Pro hopes to encourage customers to rethink lighting; rethink the possibilities. "As we say, imagination is at its best when it knows no restrictions," Bob Contos, general manager of Lights Fantastic, explains. "The drawbacks of conventional lighting are so ingrained in us, it's hard to imagine all the things we can do with this new technology. LEDs come with such an expanded possibility." The goal of Lights Fantastic Pro is to break the mold of conventional thinking and allow customers to rethink the possibilities.

Expect More

Another driving factor behind the Lights Fantastic Pro mission is to teach consumers to expect more from their lighting, to get them to believe lighting is more than just a tool to enhance visibility. As Ben Parra, manager of Lights Fantastic Pro, puts it, "It's one thing to see the color of your shoes while you're getting dressed to make sure they match your clothes, it's another thing if the lighting in your closet can actually help you wake up." Parra is describing the idea of "lighting for well being;" the concept that explores new lighting possibilities, such as color temperature affecting mood. The Lights Fantastic team hope consumers will begin to consider lighting as a crucial part of their lives, to think about it in every aspect, from planning a family dinner to designing their kitchens.

Become Indispensable

Currently, showrooms serve as a good means by which to show lighting; they are able to effectively display chandeliers, sconces, etc., to provide customers with a helpful visual. However, with the rise of the Internet, more and more of today's customers are realizing they can go online to see the products and find inspiration, and they do not seem as excited about visiting showrooms, because, often times, the added value is not there.

The Lights Fantastic team see today's showrooms' primary competitor as the Internet. With the Lights Fantastic Pro showroom, they have tried to create merchandising and displays that designers and architects have not seen. They want to show people why this revolution is so exciting. As Sayah explains, "A lot of the time, there isn't anything special at a showroom that designers can't get from going on the Internet. Our goal is to create an experience where they now feel there is something special about a showroom that's worth taking time out of their day to visit the showroom in person. With the lighting revolution, showrooms can display more than just products, they can show an experience."

Improve the Industry

It's not all about the merchandising though, to be successful and revolutionary, Lights Fantastic Pro also has to provide the best, most current products. To ensure they're doing so, the Lights Fantatsic Pro team has taken a unique approach; a targeted campaign to manufacturers and representatives looking for the newest, most innovative solid-state products and encouraging companies to become part of the lighting revolution. Larry Sayah, founder and CEO of Lights Fantastic, elaborated on this call-to-action, stating, "We are trying to expand our reach beyond the people we already know. We are trying to elicit help in determining how we will operate in this new lighting environment."

This lighting revolution goes far beyond the Lights Fantastic Pro showroom; it's something they hope will bring new life to the entire industry.  As Larry Sayah explained, "As ALA's members know, the association's ultimate goal is to help sell more lighting. We, at Lights Fantastic, would really like to come together with our vendors and other showroom colleagues and work together to promote lighting in a way that will make it more important. A way that will encourage people who are remodeling or building a new home to start with lighting. We want consumers, designers, builders and the like to think about lighting upfront and integrate the whole design into it."

Join the Revolution