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How can I convince my customers to switch to LED’s?
With some positive indicators coming from parts of the retail sector I’m feeling very positive about the year ahead. I firmly believe many potential customers will be finalising budgets and thinking about how they can make themselves stand out from the crowd in a very competitive environment.
Persuading customers to switch from current forms of lighting technology (especially fluorescent tubes) to LEDs can be challenging and even daunting. For this reason I want to try and help you answer the following question :“How can I convince my customers to switch from using tubes, which cost a couple of quid each, to an LED backlighting system which will cost a fair bit more?”
Our experience shows that the best way is to present an economic case to the potential customer. It’s not complicated – you just need the right information to illustrate a very compelling proposal. With the correct data you will be able to demonstrate the energy, carbon and maintenance savings together with the payback period. Powerful stuff – especially if you can get the Financial Director to see it!
Information you need:
1. How many and what power tubes would you normally use in the proposed light box?
2. Ask your LED supplier to provide similar information for the LED alternative (we are happy to help!)
3. How many hours per day on average is the sign switched on?
4. How much does your client pay for their electricity (p/ KWhr)?
Armed with this information it is very simple to calculate the power consumed every year and therefore the actual cost of the electricity for both systems. The difference between the two represents the potential saving. If the client has a number of signs it’s just a case of multiplying this by the saving.
The carbon saving can be calculated from the fact that 1 KWhr represents 0.537Kg of carbon (Carbon Trust).
The payback period to the client is represented by dividing the annual saving into the capital cost.
We typically find that 6 x 3m flex face sign consumes about £1400 of power per annum – this reduces to £300 for our LED system and payback can be achieved in 18 months – this assumes a 12hour a day on- time and a bi annual tube replacement programme.
I haven’t touched on the other potential saving which come from the reduction in maintenance such as tube and ballast replacement and recycling costs. These cost are very real, although in the current climate many retailers have decided not to replace failed tubes which is very evident as we drive around and see the number of poorly illuminated signs. It is however an indication of the high cost which is associated with running an estate of signs illuminated with fluorescent tubes.
Just to finish up – the idea ideal target customer is one who has an estate of large format signs, jam packed with tubes, running 24hours a day!
If you require any assistance please contact me at Bright Green Technology.
If you have any questions, please reply to this thread…
Terry Cattle
Bright Green Technology
Forge Lane
Richmond
Surrey
TW10 7BF
United KingdomTel: +44(0)20 8332 6001
http://www.brightgreentechnology.com
‘Bright Green Matrix is distributed in the UK by Robert Horne Group’.
visit http://www.roberthorne.co.uk
or call 0845 373 0199..
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4 Replies
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Hi Terry,
Sent your company an email regarding retrofitting led matrices into rotating lightboxes to give a more even illumination. (Like McDonalds)
Just need them single sided so can sacrifice the back insert. about 1450x550mm -2off
as our box supplier does 4′ boxes with 4′ tubes which are great…but instead of doing 5′ boxes with 5′ tubes…does 4’10" boxes leaving LOADS of the sides not illuminated…customer not a happy bunny…need method to salvage the job as we didn’t realize how poor it was until light were turned on!
Dave
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Hi David
I believe Terry is now out of the industry and running his own business – bumped into him at another event so not sure if anyone else from Bright Green would be reading the boards
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Thanks Craig,
emailed them too…heard nothing though.
…just been emailed!
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quote Craig Brown:Hi DavidI believe Terry is now out of the industry and running his own business – bumped into him at another event so not sure if anyone else from Bright Green would be reading the boards
Ditto, I met him and Sign & Digital and he told me same.
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