Lighting show room—-

A

AC\DC

Senior Member
Location
Lucky to know
Occupation
EC
I tried to have a lighting showroom. It’s been about a year and I figured I just mention don’t try it unless if you live in a very high populated area, it’s not worth it.

Ceiling fans are a good sale and markup, but general lights no way.they just want those Amazon lights. You can tell the quality difference but they don’t care 40 bucks saving goes into their pocket.
Plus people that I order WAC from oh my Lord, I’m surprised that company still in business. They’re so disorganized.
Kichler is good- but my rep can’t make an order. I’ve been waiting months for my display items., and I don’t want a babysit so much stuff to do.,
The best thing that came out of it is actually having a storefront so customers can come in talk to my wife that makes a big difference…

I made my store two separate office is technically in case I wanted to shrink. I think we’re gonna turn the bigger spot into a beer garden for after work.
 
We are not in an highly populated area, but our local supply house has a lighting and plumbing showroom, we have a lot of high end residential in the area though. Don’t bother to try competing with Amazon or the big box hardware stores, you need a unique fixture niche to survive.
 
The amount of money you have to tie up for inventory is insane, we have nice homes too million dollar multimillion dollar homes they’ll buy new granite new carpet new paint but they’ll keep their old rusty light still there or buy a new one at $30 on Amazon and you can tell us a piece of crap and it looks weird on the house.

Just not a money maker time better spent elsewhere
 
AC\DC said:
The amount of money you have to tie up for inventory is insane, we have nice homes too million dollar multimillion dollar homes they’ll buy new granite new carpet new paint but they’ll keep their old rusty light still there or buy a new one at $30 on Amazon and you can tell us a piece of crap and it looks weird on the house.

Just not a money maker time better spent elsewhere
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Big box stores are getting out of keeping inventory at the stores, and just bring it in from the dc when they need it. I don’t buy appliances from big Orange because of that. Lowes has went to keeping minimum appliance inventory, when they used to keep a good selection. When Amazon can get stuff to you in two days, or less, why wait for a brick and mortar store to take a week to get it to you. I would rather pick it up the same day at a store as to have to order online, but apparently I’m in the minority now.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Big box stores are getting out of keeping inventory at the stores, and just bring it in from the dc when they need it. I don’t buy appliances from big Orange because of that. Lowes has went to keeping minimum appliance inventory, when they used to keep a good selection. When Amazon can get stuff to you in two days, or less, why wait for a brick and mortar store to take a week to get it to you. I would rather pick it up the same day at a store as to have to order online, but apparently I’m in the minority now.
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I also would like to get a look at what I will be buying.
 
Correct I like crap when I want it and I wanna look at it so many times these pictures online or doctored up I mean, I’m only making 20% markup and I can’t even sell them. I tried to sell some at wholesale and I can’t even do it.
 
My mom’s refrigerator went out last week, Home Depot said it would be three days to get one delivered. Lowe’s had four in stock, but two were already spoken for. Drove to the nearest Lowe’s 30 miles away, picked it up, unloaded it on the back porch. No external signs of damage, but when I removed the packaging, it had several dents on the door, and a big dent from what appeared to be a forklift at the top door. Took it back, manager unpacked the only one left, and it was good. He did give $50 off for our trouble, and apologized. It wasn’t a very expensive refrigerator anyway. If it had been delivered, she would have been out of a refrigerator another couple of days.
 
It’s definitely getting harder for traditional lighting showrooms, especially with customers comparing everything to Amazon pricing. Even when the quality difference is clear, many people still choose the cheaper option.


That said, having a place where customers can walk in and talk directly still has a lot of value. Relationships matter in this industry.


And the beer garden idea sounds like a creative use of the space!
 
Had two supply houses that used to have lighting showrooms. Both discontinued them several years ago already. People would talk to their lighting rep, get all their fixtures picked out and then order same brand/catalog numbers from someplace on line.
 
kwired said:
Had two supply houses that used to have lighting showrooms. Both discontinued them several years ago already. People would talk to their lighting rep, get all their fixtures picked out and then order same brand/catalog numbers from someplace on line.
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I know that game way too well. "Tell me what's wrong and what has to be done to fix it" Then they hire some "I know a guy that can do it cheaper" and after that guy F it all up, they blame you for a bad diagnosis.

Impossible to win
 
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