Lighting the Way

In this episode of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Matt Rowan, Vice President, Residential Lighting, for Dominion Lighting, winner of the 2021 Showroom of the Year Award in the $2-$5 Million category, as well as the Outstanding Merchandising award. Rowan shared his unique path to the lighting industry and how his experience makes him well-suited for the lighting retail environment. He outlined his techniques for revamping Dominion’s showroom and how that impacts the customer experience.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In Episode 23 of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Brad Goode, Director of Builder Sales and Support for Lightstyles, a lighting showroom in Cornelius, NC. As the Under $2 Million Showroom of the Year Award winner, Lightstyles has created an employee culture that helps everyone on staff take ownership of their areas of expertise. Goode explains how dividing employees into teams has helped the showroom operate more efficiently to better serve customers and boost the bottom line. He also explains an employee incentive program that started as a joke and turned into a friendly customer service competition. Goode also shares why open lines of communication between employees and leadership is vital for transparency and trust.

In Episode 23 of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Brad Goode, Director of Builder Sales and Support for Lightstyles, a lighting showroom in Cornelius, NC. As the Under $2 Million Showroom of the Year Award winner, Lightstyles has created an employee culture that helps everyone on staff take ownership of their areas of expertise. Goode explains how dividing employees into teams has helped the showroom operate more efficiently to better serve customers and boost the bottom line. He also explains an employee incentive program that started as a joke and turned into a friendly customer service competition. Goode also shares why open lines of communication between employees and leadership is vital for transparency and trust.

Listen to the full episode below, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

This week, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh talks with Thomas Reindl, Division Manager of Lighting, Interiors and Building Technology for NorthWest Lighting and Accents in Mount Prospect, IL. As a 2020 Showroom of the Year Award winner, this showroom prioritizes customer education in its merchandising. Lighting retailers are selling experiences, Reindl says, and he explains how his showroom accomplishes that. Plus, find out how NorthWest Lighting and Accents has fared throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Listen to the full episode below, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify!

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In this episode, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh is joined by Terry McGowan, American Lighting Association; Sherry Lee, Rise & Design Home; and David Nestor, Urban Lights for an insightful panel discussion about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we use, and therefore, need to light the consumer’s home. Panelists discussed the latest technological advances that make creating the proper lighting atmosphere easy and how to explain those to the consumer. They also shared insight into how designers, retailers and manufacturers can work together to navigate the "new normal" as it relates to lighting in the home, and see what's in store for the future of lighting technology.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In this February episode of Lighting the Way, Furniture, Lighting & Decor Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Seth Bernstein, a multidisciplinary lighting designer whose work includes lighting design for television, concerts, fashion and retail. He spent four seasons as a lighting designer for Saturday Night Live, and his portfolio also includes Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, Savage x Fenty fashion shows, and an upcoming Hudson Yards installation. Bernstein talked about his path to his lighting design practice, what it’s like to work in entertainment lighting design and his best practices for approaching a new project, no matter what it is. He also talked about how his practice had to adapt as coronavirus changed the entertainment industry, and offered residential and commercial lighting designers advice on how to expand their practice.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In this episode of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Kasper Hammer, Director, Product and Design - Architectural and Outdoor, for Louis Poulsen about the company's involvement with SAGA Space Architects' simulated moon habitat, LUNARK. Hammer explained how circadian lighting works on the moon, the technology Louis Poulsen provided for the simulation, and the feedback they received from the participants after 60 days in the habitat. He also explained what lighting designers here on Earth can learn from this project.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In Episode 20 of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with James Fleming, CEO of Camelot Group and a judge of the 12th annual Showroom of the Year Awards. Fleming broke down some of the best practices and successes he saw from the 15 exceptional showrooms chosen as this year’s Showroom of the Year finalists. From innovative procedures implemented during the pandemic, to creative merchandising and community involvement, these techniques have boosted these showrooms to the top of the ranks. Fleming explained what other showrooms can learn from these finalists, and outlined why lighting showrooms should attend markets like Lightovation, as well as how to best maximize their time there.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In Episode 19 of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh speaks with Bill Smith, owner of WEStar Illumination and Vice President of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals. Smith outlined some best practices in landscape lighting design and explained why interior designers should think of the view from the window as part of a space’s interior design. For those interested in expanding their landscape lighting education, Smith also provided some resources to help get you started.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In this episode of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Hervé Descottes, Co-Founder of architectural lighting design firm L’Observatoire International. Descottes spoke about his method for lighting cultural institutions, the importance of communication when working with multiple partners on a large project, and how he approaches exterior lighting. He also explained how working through a pandemic has impacted the workflow projects, both positively and negatively.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.

In Episode 18 of Lighting the Way, Managing Editor Amy McIntosh spoke with Lawson Ricketts, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Ngala Trading Co. Ricketts discussed how Ngala Trading Co. came to be, how his team sources and manufactures products, and how design trends translate from South Africa to the U.S. market. He also talked about the importance of ethical and sustainable business practices, from both a human resources and materials standpoint. Plus, find out how the coronavirus pandemic affected the company that relies on international travel and shipping, and why not having product cross an ocean is an asset during this time.

This episode is sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

About the Podcast:

Lighting the Way is a podcast from the editors of Furniture, Lighting & Decor magazine, spotlighting the latest innovations in lighting design and technology. Join us twice a month for interviews with lighting industry experts to learn how the industry is moving forward.