In the field, building, landscaping and electrical contracting professionals are often asked to perform tasks above and beyond their usual duties, like installing or recommending outdoor lighting. Nightscaping, an outdoor lighting company, is offering partnership opportunities for these professionals allowing them to turn these common requests into extra income or a launching pad for expanding their current business or starting a new, lucrative one. This may be an opportunity for anyone with an electrical contracting background who is in the employ of someone else but is looking to start off on their own, and enjoy the artistic freedom that comes from being self-employed.
Glen Barry, an electrical contracting professional based in New York recently realized this opportunity. After completing several outdoor lighting jobs for a landscaping contractor, the landscaper suggested to Barry that he engage in outdoor lighting as a full-time business. He took the advice to heart and the result was Barry's new business--Hudson Valley Night Effects, LLC.
After examining numerous electrical contracting opportunities, Barry decided on Nightscaping.
"When I spoke to the company's representatives, they were very open and eager to get me started using their products," Barry says. "They had a regional representative get back to me right away, finding out about my company, my goals, and what I wanted to do. We started working together and it was more like a partnership -- they were as eager to see me succeed as I was."
Barry also found that he didn't need to "buy in" to the product line as one would with a franchise, or commit to a sales goal -- the company was simply interested in getting him up and running, with no further obligation.
In the short time Barry has been in business, he has performed several high-end residential jobs, and has just landed a high-end commercial job as well. His income has already increased over 30 percent.
The company's assistance to Barry in getting him up and running isn't unique -- for them, it's the normal run of business. "Nightscaping's strength and our lifeblood is the contractor," says Doug Alderman, Nightscaping's southern region manager.
"One thing we're not trying to do is make salespeople out of our contractors," Alderman says. "We want them to sell their own business, establish a base and most importantly become industry experts. That's one reason we make multiple tools available to them. We even provide design templates they can follow."
In addition, Nightscaping also provides it's partners with assistance in the creation of their own marketing tools including brochures and press releases. Other aids available include Information on Demand, shared information from the experience of a pro, CDs on products and techniques, seminars, a specialized computer drawing program called DynaSCAPE3, and even a regular invitation-only event called Nightscaping University.
For more information regarding resources for electrical contracting visit the Nightscaping Web site or call 800/544-4840.
