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September 21, 2020

Why Purchasing Your Commercial Lighting Fixtures Is A Long-Term Relationship

With the increasing popularity of LEDs, the nature of purchasing and maintaining commercial lighting fixtures is changing. The same way you want to develop a relationship with a trusted auto mechanic who knows your car and will charge an honest price every time, forging a relationship with a lighting distributor is important for any owner of a commercial space or multi-family building. If you have a consistent need for lighting, it’s important to make sure you’re working with an ethical, responsible distributor who knows your lighting needs and what works best for your space.

When choosing commercial lighting fixtures to outfit a commercial space, you are presented with a variety of options. The internet has connected people with various suppliers and products, which may seem convenient, but the lack of personalization and attention to individual relationships makes it difficult to identify and keep track of the products you need. Working with a local lighting distributor who has personal knowledge regarding your space, region, and the commercial lighting products you need will help save you time, money and frustration in the long run.

Common issues caused by not having a committed relationship with a commercial lighting distributor

Lack of familiarity with your commercial space

Every lighting plan is different and must be customized to the individual building or space. Once you’ve worked with a distributor to identify the lamps and commercial lighting fixtures you need, it can be difficult to try to communicate that to another distributor. Often, it takes time and on-site visits from a technician to identify the products needed for an LED retrofit or new installation. These choices are influenced by a variety of factors, like the type of building, application, ceiling height and matching the desired color temperature. If you work with multiple distributors who don’t know your building, you might not achieve your desired outcome, which can be extremely time consuming and costly.

Product knowledge

Years ago, bulbs and ballasts were interchangeable but with LED technology, it doesn’t work in that way. LED fixtures last much longer than traditional or incandescent bulbs. They are a long-term commitment, another reason it’s important to go with a reputable distributor that knows reliable brands and products. Returning to the same distributor that initially selected those products for you is important when it comes to finding replacements for the specific commercial fixtures or parts you need. Those fixtures are identifiable through model and part numbers, which your original distributor will have stored in their databases. Otherwise, a new distributor may not be able to provide the same products, which will inevitably lead to a lot of frustration.

Online commercial lighting services and suppliers

Internet-based lighting suppliers are a dime a dozen. Often, they sell products without staffing a team of experts who ask all of the necessary questions in order to determine the best way to accomplish your business goals. Local distributors also frequently offer helpful services, like light fixture recycling, which can be a complicated process. An online service that sells commercial lamps and fixtures may not truly know the products as well as a team of technicians whose main focus is lighting. While some suppliers can offer lower prices, there’s no guarantee that those prices will stay the same, or that the products are effective.

The benefits of a long-term commercial lighting relationship

Streamlining the process

Working with a commercial lighting distributor who already knows your lighting needs and has records regarding the products you’ve purchased in the past makes it much easier to reorder and purchase replacement parts. A team of lighting technicians that has worked with you through the retrofitting or installation process will undoubtedly be able to make the process a lot simpler and faster. A company that knows your organization and your lighting scheme can ensure you get the right products the first time around, without having to revisit your space and do an entirely new retrofit or installation. Many people only need to replace one part of a fixture which can prove difficult with certain manufacturers. Going back to the distributor from whom you brought the product in the first place will make it a lot easier to identify the part that you need without having to purchase an entirely new fixture.

Lock in prices

When you invest in a long-term relationship with a distributor, you know what you’re paying for and won’t be surprised by any random price hikes. Dealing with real people who know your business and have your best interest at heart has a multitude of advantages. There are plenty of seemingly-easy-to-use services out there that can change their prices at any time or stop stocking a product you need all together, so it’s important to do some research and check reviews before choosing.

Building resale

If you should decide to sell your building, you’ll want to know all of the commercial lighting fixtures and installation details in order to provide that information to a buyer. If you have a regular provider from whom you’ve purchased all of your lamps, they will be able to provide you with a list of all of the products you have installed.

Addition to your team

When you establish a relationship with a commercial lighting distributor, you are adding a whole branch to your team that is motivated by your success. A LED lighting technician should care about maintaining the best lighting scheme possible for your organization that will save you time, reduce your carbon footprint, and prioritize your goals. Professionals in the industry know all of the applicable warranties and rebates for which you may be eligible, which can add up to significant savings. It’s important to have a team of knowledgeable professionals who are interested in working with your organization in the long term and being a part of your team.

Contact Us

If you’re looking to establish a relationship with a commercial lighting distributor in Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia, contact Bay Lighting today. Our lighting technicians prioritize investing in relationships with clients in order to accomplish their goals and connect them with the most state-of-the-art lighting products available. We assist in purchasing commercial lighting for a wide range of organizations and facilities.

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