November 2023 Contractor of the Month is: Illuminate Outdoor Lighting Solutions

Can you tell us about your business?

We are Long Island’s largest outdoor lighting business that only focuses and provides the most innovative and creative design for everything low voltage outdoor lighting. That’s all we do, and we do it to the best of our ability. We are a family owned and run business. All our employees are our family and friends and that means the world to us. We focus on providing the highest quality and customer service possible. We connect on a personal level with every customer and allow them to become part of our family. This is more than just business; we are the light to providing every family with a brighter future.

How did you get into the landscape lighting business?

I have been messing around with landscape lighting since I was 8 years old. I first converted my families line voltage landscape lighting system to LED at the age of 13. I have been installing, programming, and running theatrical lighting and pro audio for all kinds of events, plays, churches, etc. since I was about 14 years of age.

What percentage of your business is landscape lighting/what other
services do you provide (ie: landscaping, irrigation, electrical…)?

Our business is about 50/50 landscape lighting / accent lighting and the other half is Permanent Holiday Lighting.

How long have you been installing landscape lighting?

We have been installing landscape lighting as a business for 4 years now. Personally, for myself about 17 years.

What AMP products do you prefer to use? Which fixtures are your favorite?

This is tough. I find creative ways to use every AMP fixture in creative ways. I will say the integrated spotlights are probably my favorite for how small they are and we use them in all kinds of fun ways.

What tips or tricks have you learned that have benefited your work from a
design/installation perspective?

Having a history in lighting, pro sound, tv, culinary, EMS, Medical and business has benefited me to see how it can apply lighting in every situation. I can be creative and really figure out the customers’ needs and desires and come up with innovative solutions that no one else is doing. I am also blessed to have a huge family that owns about 15 different construction companies in every area of construction. I’ve grown up seeing every trade and learning a little bit about everything. This allows me to truly be creative and innovative in design, planning, and installation.

Tell me about your sales process.  How do you find your customers? What
is your sales process? Do you use sales tools such as a free demo…

Our sales process is 50% word of mouth, 20% social media followers based off of our small boosted Instagram reels and our website, the other 30% is targeted marketing from our marketing team that runs specific ads and promotions for our different systems throughout the year.

Where do you find inspiration for your lighting designs?

It’s all in my head… I look at a property and instantly know what to do. I offer multiple plans and options while keeping in mind budgets. Goals, needs, and wants. We always provide room for expandability so there is never pressure on the client to do everything at once.

What do you feel is the most personally rewarding part of installing a
lighting system for a client?

The most rewarding part is seeing the customer loving the result. We call it instant gratification! The other part is every customer becomes part of our family and this drives our word-of-mouth referrals. Every customer is met at a personal level, and we have never had a bad experience or a unsatisfied customer ever.

Tell us a little bit about you personally: What do you like to do outside
of work? What are your hobbies?

I am a very laid-back driven person who loves to spend time with my wife and family. I am a drummer; I love music and lighting obviously! I love to mess with wires and sound equipment, I started collecting speakers and stereos at 5 years old. I am a very passionate home cook who loves to provide for friends and family. I also love to volunteer as an EMT and have been doing so for over 8 years besides working in the medical field for about 12 in multiple different roles. I’m extremely driven and love working with my hands. For only being 31 I’ve accomplished a lot of awesome things, and I loved every second of it because it grew me into the man I am today. God has blessed me and my family in amazing ways. My goal as a business owner is to share those same blessings with every family, homeowner, and customer we come across and serve. We at Illuminate Outdoor Lighting Systems are here to serve others. From my family to yours we are here to help your outdoor lighting needs.