Exclusive Lighting Solutions Aims to Cut Lighting Control Programming Costs

It’s a good time to launch a business aimed at saving other businesses money, so Exclusive Lighting Solutions (ELS) has that going for them.

The third-party lighting control programmers/consultants provides its clients (integrators, electricians, interior designers, architects, etc.) with an online portal in which to enter relevant lighting system information. In turn, ELS says it can turn around a bid in “hours, not days.”

San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based ELS recently officially launched its Web site, which is where the “intake form” lives. This form, according to president Trevor Orrick, is a big part of what makes ELS’s offerings unique.

“It all really starts with an intake form,” he says. “Essentially, it’s an Excel spreadsheet with lots of drop-down menus and it walks the integrator through process of defining what needs to be controlled; because the drop-downs use our terminology, it really eliminates a lot of misinterpretation. They [integrators] end up returning to us this intake form that is literally the initial framework for the program for the lighting control system.”

Launched about six months ago, Orrick says ELS addresses some needs among custom installation companies. Many can’t afford to employ full-time lighting control system programmers; many can’t afford to hire traditional third-party programmers; many need to maximize their use of man-hours by minimizing programming time.

Orrick adds that ELS offers companies a cost-effective solution to quickly providing sophisticated lighting control and shading solutions.

Right now ELS provides services for only Lutron systems, but Orrick says the company will soon expand its offerings, adding another “major player” in lighting control.

In terms of staff, ELS employees three certified Lutron programmers. Meanwhile, professional services provider Process Dealer Services Group (PDSG) commissions services to ELS.

Kevin Mikelonis, founder and general manager of Paso Robles, Calif.-based PDSG, says the comapny has a staff of three Lutron Homeworks authorized programmers. It's the first company authorized to program Lutron Homeworks systems without actually selling them.

Both Mikelonis and Orrick feel like their company is hitting the market at the right time.

“We’re finding our nitch with dealers that are doing two, three, four projects per year,” Orrick says. “We are getting a lot of A/V companies contacting us because they don’t want to focus on [lighting control] but they can’t leave it out either.”