Episode 499: #405 - The Post Rebate Zombie Apocalypse
Join Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich on Get a Grip on Lighting as they dive into the evolving lighting industry in 2025. With rebates disappearing and competition tightening, distributors must rethink their approach. Michael highlights a unique opportunity in repairable fixtures—bringing back the distributor's original role of providing lighting components instead of simply selling new fixtures. Greg shares real-world examples of retrofitting LED purpose-built fixtures with socketed solutions, making them easily replaceable and future-proof. Whether you're navigating post-rebate challenges or looking for fresh sales strategies, this episode is packed with insights to keep you ahead in the game! 🔥 Watch now and stay ahead of the curve in lighting sales! Sponsor: Halco Lighting www.halcolighting.com
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Episode 498: #404 - Artificial Intelligence
In this episode, we sit down with Taresh Grover, co-founder and COO of Pullogic, an AI-powered platform transforming supply chains. From predicting demand to optimizing inventory, AI is revolutionizing distribution—especially in the lighting industry. Taresh shares insights on how AI helps manufacturers and distributors reduce lost sales by forecasting demand and making smarter replenishment decisions in real time. He also dives into common challenges lighting businesses face and how Pullogic’s data-driven approach aligns supply with customer needs. If you work in lighting distribution, manufacturing, or just want to know how AI is reshaping the industry, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways! 🔗 Listen now & subscribe for more insights! Taresh Grover is the Co-Founder and COO of Pull Logic, an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps manufacturers and distributors reduce lost sales by optimizing product availability, not just inventory. By modeling real-world buying behavior, Pull Logic uses AI to forecast demand, recommend substitutions, and guide smarter replenishment decisions in real time.
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Episode 497: #403 - Lighting is the Original Right-to-Repair Industry
The podcast features Elizabeth Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability at iFixit, discussing the Right to Repair movement and its impact on the lighting industry. Traditionally, lighting was designed with standardized, replaceable components, ensuring easy repairs. However, modern LED fixtures often have non-repairable parts, leading to more electronic waste. Liz explains iFixit's mission to provide free repair guides and advocate for laws requiring manufacturers to support independent repairs. Michael and Greg argue that lighting should return to its repairable roots, emphasizing sustainability and waste reduction. Liz Chamberlain is Director of Sustainability at iFixit, where you can find everything you need to fix consumer gadgets (and more). She heads the company's fight for the Right to Repair, which is the idea that you should be able to fix everything you own and manufacturers shouldn't be able to stop you. Her writing about repair and e-waste has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Wired, and she's been interviewed for NPR and Vox. Connect with Liz: www.ifixit.com www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-chamberlain-4a96264a/ X: liz_ifixit facebook.com/iFixit instagram.com/ifixit Sponsor: Griplock Systems griplocksystems.com
Lighting controls are no longer a nice-to-have—they’re fast becoming the backbone of smart, energy-efficient buildings. In this episode, Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich sit down with Scott Metker, COO of Autani, to explore how the convergence of lighting, HVAC, and data is transforming the built environment.From the rise of wireless and hybrid systems to the untapped potential of demand reduction and data-driven decision-making, this conversation sheds light on what’s next for building intelligence. Scott breaks down the real-world benefits of connected controls and why facility managers are seeing lighting systems as more than just sources of illumination—they’re becoming powerful platforms for insight and automation.And if you're a distributor, contractor, or agent looking to pivot into the future?Get a Grip on Lighting is blazing a new sales path with rebates and lighting controls—and NAILD is backing it up with an in-person, hands-on controls certification. Click here to learn more. If you’re ready to shift gears with the industry, this is where you start.Tune in and find out why the smartest buildings start with the smartest lighting systems.Connect with Scott: https://autani.com https://www.litetrace.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmetker/ Sponsor: Satco www.satco.com
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Episode 495: #401 - Product Labeling and the "Deep State"
In this explosive discussion, Devin Wall returns to break down the deep-state influence in the lighting industry—focusing on tariffs, accreditation agencies, and the power dynamics shaping the market. 🔦 Key Topics Covered: - Why Devin supports tariffs & U.S.-based manufacturing - The real role of accreditation agencies (like DLC) - How non-player characters are controlling lighting policies - Is the DLC helping or hurting lighting innovation? - Why rebates dictate product choices—and who profits - The unseen impact of industry regulations 🔥 If you're in the lighting industry, this episode is a MUST-WATCH! Let’s talk about who’s pulling the strings and how manufacturers & distributors can navigate the system. 💡 Hit like, subscribe, and join the conversation in the comments! #LightingIndustry #Tariffs #DLC #LightingRegulations #DeepStateLighting #GetAGripOnLighting
Recognizing a need in the lighting industry to forum together and discuss subjects & issues in our industry, the Get A Grip On Lighting Podcast was born. Get A Grip brings on industry experts to talk about real issues and focused on that subject matter. If there’s something to be said on the subject, Get A Grip will go there. Get A Grip On Lighting Podcasts are hosted by Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich, who have over 30 years of combined experience in the lighting industry. Michael Colligan is an entrepreneur and inventor. He’s a subject matter expert in commercial and industrial lighting supply, lighting retrofits, and finding recycling streams for hard-to-recycle waste. Greg Ehrich, LC is the former President of the National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD) and owner of a progressive lighting distributorship.
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