It’s that time of the year when people tend to reflect on the year soon to pass in anticipation of setting goals for the new year. Where did we succeed? What could we have done better? What special moments and milestones were celebrated?
A company shares in the same reflections as any individual. While we are eager to move into a new year abound with new goals, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on 2018. Here are 5 of our most notable moments from the year:
We celebrated our 30th birthday 
They say thirties are the new twenties, and boy are we thriving! In 1988 founders Barry & Andrea Reiner formed InnerSpace Electronics, Inc. This year marked our 30th year in business as Home Technology Professionals delivering innovative solutions that improve overall quality of life within the home. A huge shout out goes to our loyal and trusted clients and partners that not only supported us this far but have enabled us to continue to grow and expand around technology in the home. Read more about our company here.
Staff Investments
To remain relevant and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing technology landscape, it’s imperative that we keep our talent well-educated and trained in all the latest technologies. This year we invested across many different areas of our business through vendor and industry-related training programs.
On-Staff Lighting Designer
In support of our lighting division expansion offering lighting design services and selling and specifying light fixtures, Elizabeth Quisgard in our engineering department achieved the American Lighting Association (ALA) Lighting Specialist certification. It encompasses every aspect of the residential lighting industry, including industry trends, technology and technical developments.
Related Post: 3 Reasons Why InnerSpace Electronics Should Be Your Lighting Designer and Fixture Supplier on Residential Projects
Continuing Education
We also enrolled our engineering team in the Vantage Lighting Controls certification program to maintain and develop their skills with this control system. Expanding our knowledge of another lighting control platform enables us to offer multiple options matched to client / project requirements.
Raising best-in-class technicians and installers
As a requirement, all our technicians are required to participate in training through the industry-accredited Maverick Technical Institute, certifying those who wish to pursue a certificate as a Low-Voltage Technician (LVT). This program offers hands-on classroom training of proper installation techniques raising qualified installers with a strong background in A/V and low-voltage electronics. By putting our technicians and installers through this program, we are ensuring you are getting best-in-class technicians with the skills and experience mitigating your risk for careless installs, messy racks, and weak business practices.
Growth through new hires
Thanks to our continued success, we’ve been able to scale the business accordingly and add new members to our team roster in our sales, operations, and IT departments. These additions bring unique skills that enhance our business goals and we look forward to seeing their impact in the new year.
Product Expansion
For many years we’ve been designing and installing lighting control systems. It was only natural for us to start specifying and selling compatible light fixtures that are focused on the future of LED lighting. In order to become an authorized reseller vendors typically set extensive requirements such as volume minimums, product training, and demo equipment orders that need to be met. This year we focused on adding the following brands to our product portfolio:
DMF Lighting manufacturers high-quality LED light in a small, affordable package. Available in a wide range of trims, color temperature, lumen output, and dimming capabilities, this brand is an innovative solution outside of your traditional housing cans, with all the necessary ratings.
Ketra is focused on flexibility and simplicity. Recently acquired by Lutron, they offer full-range color options, human-centric lighting programs to match and enhance circadian rhythm, high output and beam spread options, and a variety of aperture and trim options.
Finire and F
inire Prime extend a variety of apertures, trims, and color temperatures. Known for their dimming performance, they are compatible with the Lutron Eco System driver, and come in multiple beam spread options.
USAI Lighting is known for high quality, high performance fixtures. With many options available to meet various installation scenarios, these fixtures come in a variety of color temperatures, with a variety of openings and finishes.
We’ll be hitting the road in 2019 educating on the various fixture types available to the design-build community. Contact us to sign up for our lighting demo to learn more about the newest in LED technology. We bring lunch to your office! Learn more about our lighting division here.
Award-winning Installations
We strive for continued excellence. Our partnerships are built on collaboration and communication. Our project management skills maintain accountability and ensure we deliver results. Many of our projects are noteworthy homes designed by leaders and innovators in their respective trade. Vendor recognition, and support of the design-build community keeps us all working with a shared mission – to deliver outstanding forward-thinking homes. Here are our leading awards for 2018:
Lutron Excellence Award for Best Use of Lutron’s High-Performance LED Fixtures
Partnering with the project architect, builder, lighting designer and client we delivered an award-winning Lutron QS system comprised of 330 Ivalo Finire fixtures and earning us the 2018 Lutron Excellence Award for Best Use of Lutron’s High-Performance LED Fixtures.
Related Post: Honored by Lutron Electronics for Project Excellence
HOBI Award for Best Connected Home
As members of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County (HBRA), we were ecstatic to learn we were awarded the Best Connected Home award. The technology component of their award program is in its second year, which speaks to the growing support of partnering with technology experts at the design stage to deliver award-winning results. The winning home was built on collaboration with multiple trades, and a leading builder in the marketplace.
Industry Affiliations and Dealer Status Updates
HTA is a new association designed to connect homeowners, and design-build professionals with integration firms. We met the extensive qualifications of the Estate certification, the highest designation to be received. This association is built around three pillars: Technical Competency, Aftercare Service, and Reputation. Partnering with a HTA Certified installer guarantees they are skilled at the level your project requires.
We are once again recognized as a Diamond Elite Dealer with Lutron based on our 2017 sales volume. A Diamond Elite Dealer must meet volume requirements over $750K within a fiscal year. In order to achieve this volume, our team from sales to engineering needs to be extremely proficient with their product line and technical requirements. We are proud to commit to and support a leading brand of lighting controls, and motorized window treatments.
Related Post: We’re Diamond Elite!
As Savant dealers for many years, we continuously maintain their requirements to meet the high standards of a Gold dealer. A Gold Savant Dealer has at least two years of Savant experience and additional certifications for advanced features and area lighting control.
One thing we can lookback and takeaway from 2018 is our investment for continued growth and excellence. Our partnerships with the design-build community and client relationships look to us as subject matter experts in the realm of home technology. It is imperative that we maintain thought-leadership to continue to drive value, innovation, and solutions that supersede expectations.
We have some high ambitions set for the new year and look forward to enhancing our relationships through education, collaboration, and service. Thank you to all our loyal partners and clients for a successful 2018, and we wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019!
