August 24, 2024
5 Things to Know: August 24
Messe Frankfurt parodied at the IES24 conference. Plus, is this the next big market for streetlights?
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. Messe Frankfurt Parodied at IES24
On Saturday, the Marriott Marquis Hotel got a little taste of Broadway magic, as the IES Progress Report Committee took the stage at the IES24 Conference. For four enchanting minutes, the conference space transformed into the nearby Gershwin Theatre with a parody of the song "Popular" from the hit Broadway musical Wicked.
Paula Ziegenbein took center stage with the vocals, while Shelly Prew, an IES Detroit Section officer, personified LightFair by donning a Statue of Liberty costume. The duo was joined by committee members in German attire, creating a playful nod to the recent transfer of one-third ownership of LightFair to Messe Frankfurt, the German company now organizing LightFair 2025.
With humor, creativity, and industry insight, the skit was a hit, leaving the audience both entertained and enlightened. Even Inside Lighting got a quick shoutout with a cameo of their story headlines in the background graphics. Cheers to the IES Progress Committee for keeping the crowd engaged and informed.
2 . Professor Predicts that the GE Brand “Will Start to Fade Away”
For those lighting people who were in the industry 15 or more years ago, General Electric (GE) was a major force, standing tall alongside Philips and Osram Sylvania as one of the Big 3 lamp companies. During last decade’s LED Revolution, all three lighting brands underwent significant changes, with GE divesting its lighting division as part of a broader strategy to exit the appliance and other consumer-facing product markets.
Today, the GE brand is licensed to Current for professional lamps and Savant Systems for consumer lamps.
In a recent post on his STRONGBRANDS blog, Professor Tim Calkins of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University examines the evolution of the GE brand. Once hailed as the pinnacle of corporate achievement under CEO Jack Welch, GE was revered for its business acumen and financial success. The Crotonville training center was renowned as a top-tier institution for business leadership. However, Calkins sheds light on the company’s dramatic decline, marked by financial manipulation and an overinflated sense of importance among its executives. Calkins notes that as the business imploded, GE's stock price tumbled, and the company eventually split into multiple entities, with the GE brand now fragmented across various sectors.
Looking ahead, Calkins is skeptical about the brand's future, noting that the fractured ownership across different companies will likely lead to inconsistent brand management and a gradual erosion of its identity.
"I don’t think GE will go away completely, at least not in the next fifty years. But it will inevitably recede from view, as even the strongest brands sometimes do when they are managed with arrogance and complacency," Calkins warns.
3. 2024 NAILD Convention Highlights New Initiatives
The 2024 National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD) Convention took place at The Saint Paul Hotel in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from Monday evening to Wednesday. The event featured a dozen vendor booths and brought together 47 representatives from 17 member companies. Attendees participated in workshops covering energy codes, egress lighting, and lighting layouts, while also hearing from vendors. The proceedings also revealed that the NAILD Bord of Directors approved funds for investments in lighting controls education. Additionally, Matt Honson was sworn in as the new President of the NAILD board.
The education committee revealed plans for an online, on-demand program in Darkness Restoration and Preservation. This new program will be developed by Scott Wachter and Michael Colligan, with contributions from experts in various fields including engineering, design, law, biology, and light. The Board also recognized industry excellence, presenting Brian Amundson with the Gary Root Award for Personality in the Lighting Industry, Spencer Miles with the Paul Hafner Award for Service to the Industry, Alan Karen with the Linda Daniel Award for Service to a member company, and Steve Robinson with the Randy Johnson Award for commitment to education.
The convention was not solely focused on business. Attendees enjoyed entertainment such as Dueling Pianos and a St. Paul Saints baseball game against the Scranton RailRiders, where Brian Huff threw out the ceremonial first pitch. "The energy and engagement at this year’s convention were truly remarkable," a NAILD spokesperson said.
The RailRiders defeated the Saints 9-4. Carlos Narvaez went 3 for 4 with four runs batted in.
4. Streetlights on the Moon?
According to Bill Hoagland of Missouri's Neosho Daily News, NASA is considering a groundbreaking initiative that could see streetlights installed on the moon within the next 30 years. As part of NASA’s Innovative Concepts Program, these "streetlights" would be placed atop 300-foot towers and are envisioned as a key component in making the lunar surface habitable for extended human stays.
The purpose of these lights isn’t to deter crime but to support long-term human presence on the Moon, as NASA aims to lay the groundwork for a thriving lunar economy. With the Moon’s slow rotation—taking 28 days to complete one orbit around Earth—prolonged stays will be challenging, and these lights could play a critical role in overcoming those obstacles.
In other news, Inside Lighting has learned that Florida-based SESCO Lighting may be in talks with Signify to represent Gardco on the moons of Earth (1 moon), Jupiter (95 moons) and Saturn (146 moons).
5. The $580 Billion “Wellness Real Estate Market”
The Dialogue Blog, published by global architectural firm Gensler, highlights the significant growth of wellness real estate as health and wellness become increasingly critical in consumer preferences. This sector, which focuses on the intentional design of spaces that promote physical, emotional, and social well-being, is experiencing rapid expansion.
Gensler’s analysis estimates the U.S. wellness real estate market at over $580 billion, significantly outpacing growth in other real estate sectors, with wellness-oriented properties commanding substantial revenue premiums and higher occupancy rates.
This trend is evident across multiple real estate sectors, including workplace, multifamily residential, hospitality, and retail. Projects such as Marriott International Global Headquarters and Solhouse 6035 are exemplifying how wellness design can enhance tenant engagement and create vibrant community ecosystems.
The hospitality industry continues to leverage wellness features to drive growth, while retail developments are increasingly incorporating pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use spaces that foster social connections. As health remains a priority, demand for wellness-focused real estate is expected to continue rising.
