The End Is Near

Just judging by recent Facebook [2] posts from showrooms I’m following, many lighting retailers have been pretty occupied lately putting their winter market treasures on the floor. With housing starts [3] simultaneously seeing their best numbers since October 2008 and the Optimism-o-meter flying off the charts, things are about to get even busier.

Which is why I want you to stop what you’re doing. Right now. And enter [4] the Showroom of the Year Awards [5] before it’s too late.

The deadline is right around the corner — March 5 — but the bragging rights for being a finalist [6] or winner [7] will live on and on. Any independent, brick-and-mortar lighting store is eligible. Show your hard-working, loyal staff how much you appreciate them by giving them some public recognition. Finalists will be profiled [8] in the May issue of Residential Lighting magazine, with winners announced at the June Dallas Market [9].

If you’re not a retailer yourself, you can still participate in the process by nominating [10] a store. But this, too, must be completed by our March 5 deadline.

It may seem “nice” versus “necessary” to seek accolades amidst all of the duties you perform to keep your business humming. But it’s precisely because of your efforts that you (and your colleagues) deserve to be honored in this way. Take a moment to reflect on what makes you great and share that story with us in your 2012 Showroom of the Year entry [4]. Then go back to the best possible flavor of “busy” most of us have tasted in quite a while.