Republicans seek ways around the incandescent light bulb ban

The energy efficiency standard may have been enshrined in to American Federal law but opposition to it, mainly Republican, is still plentiful. Delegate Bob Marshall will this month debate a Bill in the House Commerce Sub-Committee which seeks to allow the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs in the State of Virginia. Marshall is not alone in his actions; seven other States have similar legislation pending and the State of Texas has already passed a law which enables the sale of any incandescent light bulb made within the State. 

Marshall has vehemently argued that compact fluorescent lamps pose a danger to public health should they break due to the amount of mercury they contain. He has also suggested the switch to energy saving light bulbs could result in ‘poorer quality illumination.’  

The outcome of the aforementioned State legislation is of great interest not only because of the effect on lighting but because it embodies the wider issue of the relationship between State and Federal Government, an issue which looks set to be a key battle ground in the forthcoming Presidential elections.

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Atrium Ltd – Redesigned Lighting Showroom

Atrium Ltd have recently moved away from modern furniture supply to selling the finest lighting products and redesigned their Centrepoint tower showroom. As a supplier of lamps to Atrium, we at The Lamp Company have been greatly impressed by their innovative new approach to lighting, and here is what all the fuss is about: 

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Atrium have had this to say about it all:

For the last twenty years, ‘Atrium’ has been located in the base of the Centrepoint tower, the iconic building that once held the title of the tallest building in London. Recently ‘Atrium’ has made a professional move to selling the finest lighting products – a move that needed both explanation and celebration. This then lead to a design Brief that required an interactive open space, with a central reception area that could very easily be converted into a darkened showroom.

‘Studio RHE’ reacted to the Brief by designing a carefully choreographed intertwined space which utilizes a series of rotating, interlocking, hinged, jig‐sawed wall panels that transform the bright day‐lit space to a darkened showroom with a simple twist. These rotating walls allow natural light to be played with throughout the day as well as adding an ever changing frontage to the streetscape of St. Giles Circus. This theatrical transformation will let ‘Atrium’ demonstrate their range of ‘Soft Architecture’ lighting by FLOS. ‘Studio RHE’ has emphasized this by arranging a rich mix of tactile materials from high gloss resin to reclaimed Yara timber sleepers. This has been done whilst keeping to a simple palette of predominantly a clean white, accentuated by a bright acid green used throughout the edges as a luminous highlight.

Finally a darkened ‘inner sanctum’ meeting space has been created with colour change lighting control wheels and integrally plastered fittings within the walls. These complete the showroom experience before returning to the beautifully fitted central kinetic bar at the heart of the space. The design direction is continued through the entire space to the Offices above where desks are arranged along a diagonal show wall with integrated screens and net surfing booths that look out over the double height showroom and plaza.

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Lamp Company: Area Sales Manager Vacancy

A new position looking after a sales area within the UK. The role is predominantly office based with occasional customer visits. Whilst an account managing role you will be expected to work to set monthly targets and be required to increase your existing customer base whilst also obtaining new business within your area. A demanding and fast paced sector where exceeding expectations and customer service is paramount.

Job Specification for Area Sales Manager

Key Tasks:

  • Must have a proven Sales background (lighting /lamps an advantage) but in a B2B environment
  • Manage assigned accounts / dormant customers
  • Meet monthly sales targets
  • Proactively increasing the customer database
  • Answering the telephones

Core Performances:

  • Must be confident at telephone answering
  • Speak in a clear and concise manner – Good communicator
  • Accurate data inputting
  • Computer literate
  • Hard working, willing to learn / adapt and assist
  • Good team skills
  • Customer service /Orientation

                    Competencies 

Communication skills
Information gathering
Problem Solving
Influencing skills
Need for excellence
Team skills
Decisiveness
Customer service / orientation
Problem solving

Package:

  • £16,000 start (negotiable) – 20 days holiday plus bank holidays increasing after 2 years, 6 months probation period, in-house training, 5% non-contributory pension, private health care and Company bonus scheme after 6 months. Sales area bonuses (uncapped) after 6 months. Plus other benefits.
  • Working hours 8.30-5pm Monday to Friday with 30 mins lunch break and 2 breaks during the day (am/pm).

The Lamp Company has been established for over 21 years and is a leading independent wholesale /retail distributor nationwide with a reputation built of ‘unrivalled service, knowledge and choice’.

Please visit our websites to get an overall view of the services and industry: www.lampco.co.uk & www.easy-lightbulbs.com

In the first instance please email your CV to john.orlandi@lampco.co.uk with a covering letter detailing your experience, background and why you would like to join the Lamp Company.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us here at The Lamp Company!

Christmas Delivery Information

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America in temporary U-turn over incandescent light bulb ban

Congressional Republicans appear, for the time being at least, to have won the battle to keep incandescent light bulbs available for domestic consumption in America. The bulbs had been due to be banned in 2012 as part of a new energy efficiency standard set in to law in 2007 by President Obama. However, a reprieve has come about due to Obama’s need to compromise in order to pass a Spending Bill last Thursday to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. The bill will not overrule the 2007 law; instead it will stop the government from spending any money on enforcing light bulb standards, in effect forcing a temporary repeal of the ban for one year.

Republicans who have dropped their objections to many policy restrictions in the Spending Bill have stood firm on this issue from the beginning and defended what they see as the right to free choice throughout. It seems the incandescent light bulb debate in America is set to rumble on for a good while yet.

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