LED Lights Opened the Door!

Posted by Katie Jorgenson on Aug 18th 2014

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Holiday Newsletter: Volume 6

LED LIGHTS OPENED THE DOOR

Once upon a time, Interiorscapers took care of live plants and that was pretty much the extent of the business. Then replica plants and florals improved and that became a profit center as well. Then, someone was asked to provide some poinsettia, a tree and the Holiday business was born. Today, Holiday accounts for around 15% of Interior Plant business income. However, not all companies wanted to take on Holiday. Some just wanted to spend the Holidays with family. Still others jumped in feet first selling, installing, and storing trees, wreaths, and so on. All went well until in the middle of the Season the 'scaper got a phone call from a disturbed client, "The lights are out on my tree". So the 'scaper got out of bed and drove to the job site only to find out that stringing lights was a skill unto itself. After that, she wasn't too keen on Holiday.

Time went on and the importers managed to get the overseas fabricators to do the lights themselves. Problem solved? Not so much. Incandescent light strands last approximately 2000-3000 hours. Still client calls and frustration. Then came LED lights! It still took a few years for the color to be perfected to warm white, but it happened. And, wonder of wonders, the lights lasted much, much longer! No more weekend client complaint calls. And since LED only uses a fraction of the energy, the savings in costs went down to a mere nothing. And, in today's "Green" emphasis, they are politically correct as well.

Here at Autograph, we've done the homework for you. They come in variety of different colors and styles for your many uses including: 5mm (wide angle), T-5 (tube or regular mini-bulb), C-6 and C-7, warm white, cool winter white, multi-color, and unsealed or one piece mold construction for exterior use. Also available are battery operated LED options.

In today's economy, if you are not doing Holiday you are missing out on an add-on profit center!

Do It Up With Lights!

In the past few years lights have become a primary element in holiday design, and Autograph has brought you the most extensive lighting décor products in a wealth of configurations. Check out pages 3 through 9 of our new Christmas catalog and you will see what we mean. With LED crystal arches, willow trees, branches, hanging globes and net lighting there are so many options and all so striking. The LED lighting lasts up to 100,000 hours while the regular incandescent strands last only 1,500 hours! Clients and our environment appreciate the energy savings.

Placed inside a lobby or when viewed from the outside through plate glass windows, the brilliant light show draws the viewer in and draws attention no matter what age. Do your homework on lighting and be ready to paint a lighting masterpiece when for your next holiday theme presentation!

Would You Go Hiking With Your Flip-Flops?

Of course not! You wouldn't make it anywhere. So it is advised that holiday trees have the proper stands to sustain the weight of the trees just as you need the right footwear. We have stands that are constructed of heavy duty metal and for the largest heights come with wheels for ease of transportation. Never try to use stands carried at local retailers. They are not designed for commercial use and you as the installer have a vested interest in getting the right stand for the tree that will last a long time.

So, throw out those flip flops and put on your heavy duty hiking boots and you are good to go!

The True LED Light Test

Product testing of all kinds is an ongoing, normal every day function here at Autograph. We strive to exceed our customers expectations in product knowledge, education, and quality. Actual testing the life of a pre-lit christmas tree is what we do year round. LED lighted items are in popular demand. So, what could be more telling than plugging them in? In fact, right in our office we have a pre-lit tree with LED lights that has been plugged in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since September 2008! To date this tree has been lit for 51,000 + hours and counting! Other LED light strands are also plugged in and hanging against the wall in our testing room and stay continuously lit year round!

Employee Spotlight: Loraine Borway

This month for our employee spotlight we will be showcasing a rustic style Christmas tree decorated by sales associate, Loraine Borway. Loraine has been with Autograph since the beginning of 2013 after graduating from the University of Akron with a degree in Interior Design. Before working with Autograph, Loraine worked on design projects in the Cleveland, Ohio area as well as Palm Beach, Florida. Not only is Loraine directly involved with sales and customer service, she also assists with showroom projects and design work. She loves to offering her ideas displaying product and stays up-to-date with current trendy designs and color schemes. She is always quick to jump on any design opportunity she gets here at Autograph, from a Christmas Tree decorating to Full- Line Showroom displays.

This display (pictured right) is something that Loraine helped design to give a rustic, log cabin like feel. This lightly flocked prelit 7.5' Tree includes a mix of our Holiday ornaments accents, fruit and berry stems, and natural birch wood.

One of thee most beloved themes for holiday decor is the use of natural, woodsy elements. Animal print ornaments in leopard, tiger, or zebra work well with a set of antlers, berries and pine cones. All of these together make a statement on the pine tree backdrop. Add some natural birch poles and you are on you are ready to go!