In this month’s Face to Face we speak with Wayne Hill, Managing Director at Luceco Group, to find out more about the company’s current operations and future plans.
Q:What is the history behind the company and which brands fall under the Luceco Group banner?
Luceco Group, the market leader in key electrical categories, has a heritage that dates back 80 years, growing rapidly and consistently in recent years to encompass established brands including British General, Masterplug, Kingfisher Lighting, DW Windsor, Nexus, Ross, SyncEV, DLine and Luceco Lighting.
Q: With a vast array of fire-rated downlighters now on the market what should wholesalers focus on when considering products and solutions to stock?
There are a number of key points for wholesalers to think about when it comes to fire-rated downlighters. Firstly, think great product design. With lots of different downlighters to choose from, stocking a range that is designed with the installer in mind is essential. Your customers are looking for a reliable product that makes their job quick and easy, allowing them to move onto their next installation whilst leaving a good impression. The Luceco FType range includes Pushfit connectors for quick wiring and a QuickView window within the connector to double-check wiring has remained intact during closure.
Space is always a challenge for wholesalers who want to ensure customers have access to as wide a product range as possible, whilst not over-stocking. Carrying a brand such as the Lueceo FType enables a wholesaler to offer multiple lighting options and colour ranges, whilst stocking a much smaller amount of product, saving valuable space. This is because both MK2 and the Ultra Downlight enable the installer to adjust the colour and temperatures settings to suit the room and the clients’ needs while still incorporating multiple design finish bezels including flat, regressed and adjustable.
Having great stand out packaging, that is clear, concise and explains the product is a benefit to wholesalers as it means the product can sell itself, freeing up staff to focus on other activities in store. It is also more likely to sell when the installer can clearly see what they are buying without having to spend extensive time reviewing the packaging to establish that the contents fits their required purpose.
Choosing to buy from a reputable supplier, with excellent facilities and experience across the lighting industry is important. Cheaper brands flooding the market may be backed by good marketing but not necessarily great products. Inconsistent manufacturing processes, unreliable components, poor design and build quality can all lead to end-user complaints, damage to the installer’s reputation and returns for the wholesaler.
Great supplier sales support and tailored merchandising options that suit your individual needs is essential. Wholesalers need suppliers who can support their product with eye-catching point-of-sale materials, merchandising units, demo kits for your sales team where required and on-the-ground support for your trade events and open days.
Q:What are some of the Luceco products and systems currently proving popular with wholesalers and installers?
BG wiring accessory products are very popular with electrical wholesalers and installers. Aside from an 80-year history of proven great products, the BG range offers something to suit every budget, from contractor to decorative, whilst delivering on reliability, style and superb quality finish. Proving to be hugely popular right now, the Evolve range, which delivers a modern style and robust finish in eight colourways, was Highly Commended in the recent DIY Awards thanks to its ingenious removable clip on/off front plates that make for easy decorating and now includes new Super-fast charge USB-C sockets. In addition, the popular ‘on trend’ Matt Black finish products, available in FlatPlate, Nexus Metal and Evolve designs, are further strengthened by the newly launched Antique Brass finish.
In addition, our new Climate Essence and LuxPack Essence range of lighting, aimed at commercial properties and offering power and colour change options that enable wholesalers to reduce their SKU count, is very much in demand. Featuring a universal emergency pack and sensor options to make them a truly versatile product, wholesalers are finding the marketing point-of-sale materials an added support in drawing attention to installers as to the reduced stock holding installers need to carry for multiple jobs.
Designed with contractors to bring into play unique features which ease installation, our popular Fortress Consumer Units feature a useful lid retainer to allow hands free access, backed out retained terminals, an integrated spirit level and an offset incomer position to allow easier incoming meter tail terminations. In addition, the units comply with Amd 2 and are available in an extensive range of options, with or without SPD fitted, to give greater choice.
Finally, designed for speed of installation and to make commissioning quick and easy, the BG SYNC EV Wall Charger 2 is gaining enormous popularity with wholesalers and installers alike. With eight face plate colour options to choose from, the installer can offer their customer the opportunity to personalise their charging unit. With the Pro TWIN charger, which is aimed at commercial properties and works with our newly launched Balancer available soon, safe multiple cars charging at one time will be a reality.
Q:What are Luceco and the wider lighting industry doing to improve sustainability?
Luceco has been very much at the forefront of LED advancements, driving LED technology especially in the commercial space with sustainability being at the heart of our designs. One major step was to develop our own advanced lighting control application known as PLATFORM – enabling companies to benefit from smart, adjustable lighting all supported with an easy, intuitive app.
The lighting team are also working on improving Lumen per watt constantly, with many Luceco products offering the ultimate in Lumen efficiency.
Luceco has not always loudly boasted their environmental commitments, often they have just been done ‘as standard’, such as removing all plastics from the Luceco Lighting packaging and utilising recycled materials wherever possible.
As well as bringing out great product designs, Luceco is also working to improve sustainable products such as designing LEDs and drivers that can be more easily replaced – reducing landfill in the longer term as only the LED needs to be replaced and not the whole unit.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the Luceco Academy and the courses it offers?
Luceco Academy offers a range of free online CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses designed for electrical professionals.
Courses cover topics such as electrical design, health and safety, domestic fire alarms, lighting design, EV charge point preparation, circuit protection, smart home technology, rewires and renovation and compliance with building regulations. Each course includes video tutorials and multiple-choice reviews to validate learning, helping professionals stay updated with industry standards and enhance their skills.
For more details, visit Luceco Academy CPD Courses.
Q: What are Luceco’s key objectives for the next 12 months?
The next 12 months will see Luceco continue to extend its product development with innovative solutions across all brands, including commercial electric vehicle charging and home energy management. The key focus will remain as current – to help people harness sustainability every day by providing great quality products, supporting its much-valued contractor relationships as well as newcomers into industry through the hosting of the eFixx 30under30 Awards, Sparks Learner of the Year Apprentice Awards and our work with colleges throughout the country.
For more information, click here
