Fall 2014 Hardlines Strategies

STORE PROGRAMS

On Track With Technology Blish-Mize Forms New Partnership to Offer LED Commercial Lighting

Representatives from Titan LED, along with Blish-Mize-trained LED lighting per- sonnel, will be at the Fall Buying Market to educate customers about this growing tech- nology and full product offering, plus dem- onstrating the opportunity business owners have by converting to LED lighting. “LED lighting allows a business to save 50 to 75 percent of its electrical costs, because this type of lighting provides more light for lower wattage,” says Titan LED Regional Manager and National Recruitment Manager TimWhittinghill. “It also saves time and money spent on maintenance of traditional lighting. LED technology typically lasts 10 times longer than traditional lighting, which eliminates maintenance expenses for replace- ment bulbs and tubes, disposal fees, ballast replacement and electrical contractor fees. “The combination of these reduced expens- es creates larger short- and long-term profits for the business owner,” he says. time and money. One of the company’s recent moves to promote that efficiency is a partnership with Titan LED Lighting, a California-based manufacturer specializing in energy-efficient LED lighting. A s technology progresses, Blish-Mize works to stay on the forefront in order to be more efficient, which means using the latest products, all while saving

The companies teamed up to offer Titan LED’s products to all Blish-Mize customers. “Blish-Mize has a wonderful reputation and a special relationship with its customers,” says Whittinghill. “We thought they would be the perfect partner in this venture as we team up to install and distribute our products.” Blish-Mize New Business Development and Key Accounts Manager Clay Uhrmacher agreed. “We’re always looking for ways to bring added value and help improve our cus- tomers’ bottom line, making them more prof- itable. We’re excited about this opportunity.” Titan LED lighting was recently installed at the Blish-Mize corporate office and distribu- tion center, providing a truer, more efficient lighting system than the traditional fluorescent bulbs previously in place and offering signifi- cant savings in ongoing monthly utility costs. Looking forward, Blish-Mize-trained Titan LED lighting specialists will visit with custom- ers and show them how to convert to this new lighting technology. Titan LED will also have a booth at the Fall Buying Market, where you can get more information if you might be interested in doing a conversion in your store. “We’ve put together an easy process to help you analyze your current system, and if your store is a good fit with the Titan LED

program, we’ll work with you to get the right lighting,” says Uhrmacher. Blish-Mize and Titan LED staff will work together to offer a free analysis of your store. By looking at the current lighting fixtures in your store and the past 12 months of utility bills, they can provide information about the type of lighting you’ll need and how much, as well as an estimate of the project’s cost. Concerned about costs? They’ll let you know if there are any savings available through local utility companies or federal gov- ernment tax credit programs. Blish-Mize has a leasing program if you choose to finance the cost of the conversion. “It’s a perfect match for us and for Blish- Mize,” says Whittinghill. “You have two quality organizations that can provide these products and show retailers how much energy, money and time they can save each month.” And the products are of high quality, with several items made in the USA, Uhrmacher says. “Titan LED has a deep product line offering full of premium commercial LED lighting. We’re excited to be on the forefront of this growing category with a company that’s a leader in the field, while at the same time offering another way for our customers to improve their businesses’ profitability.”

Titan LED Lighting being installed in a recent Blish-Mize office set.

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