HessAmerica just conducted its National Sales meeting in Spartanburg, SC. More than eighty principals and specification sales people from the U.S. and Canada attended the two-day event that highlighted new products, new programs, as well as, a major expansion of The Gallery, Hess’ unique outdoor exhibit.

The highlight of the factory visit was the newly developed Light Tower, featuring Hess’ proprietary indirect projector/reflector system utilizing advanced secondary reflector technology designed by Bartenbach Lichtlabor. The Light Tower can only be described as a functional sculpture as it presents a dramatic structural form coupled with a highly sophisticated lighting function.

Peter Zsohar, Hess Technical Director, was on hand to present several products along with Georges Hess and the HessAmerica staff.

Hess also unveiled a totally redesigned WEBSITE (www.hessamerica.com). In addition to being bright and easy to read, it features a wide array of navigational features to enhance usability. Catalog pages, specification sheets and photometric files are now easily downloaded. A comprehensive photographic reference library of projects is also available. Visit the new website soon!

In addition, Webex, an interactive video conference-based program for online agent training, was also introduced. More on upcoming meetings later.

Following the meeting and visit to the factory, several reps were treated to a beautiful fall day of golf at nearby River Falls, a Gary Player designed course. Scott Stefan, Jeff Kirker, and Paul Kubala all walked away with gift certificates for their “closest to the pin” shots.

Another group took advantage of a pre-holiday visit to the Biltmore Estate with lunch at the Deerpark Inn, sampling a trip Hess makes with visiting specifiers on a regular basis. With the leaves in full fall colors and the Estate decorated for the holidays, it was a special time to visit.

The meeting generated a lot of interest for the new product ranges and surely will open new doors with Hess’ innovative designs. For those of you who were unable to attend, we missed you and hope you find your way to Gaffney soon.

For the benefit of those who were not at the sales meeting, the following is a list of new products that were introduced:

HessAmerica will begin conducting regularly scheduled product training sessions through WebEx starting this month. WebEx is an Internet based form of video conferencing that will allow us to provide real-time interactive training for your sales personnel. We will be making use of live video and PowerPoint presentations within this platform. No special equipment is needed to participate; all that is required is an Internet connection and telephone.
In addition to the live presentation, you will have the ability to download any electronic files that we make available, for use in your sales calls. Examples of electronic files that may be shared and downloaded by attendees include PowerPoint presentations, application images, brochures and catalog sheets, and IES files.

Several agency principals have already scheduled their first sessions with us to coincide with their weekly specification sales meetings to gain maximum impact within their organizations. Typical sessions will run between 45 minutes to an hour. Custom sessions can be arranged in advance should you have a specific topic to discuss. A short questionnaire will be sent to agency principals to allow us to determine the best times to schedule these sessions. A formal schedule will then be distributed to you by email.

Upcoming Webex programs include, but are not limited to the following products and programs:

• Light Tower • Linea • Milano • Fiora • New LED product update

• New website review • Specification sheet program • Oval Luminaire • Residenza • Sera

We look forward to your participation and welcome any feedback that you may want to share.

This month we are substituting a new product feature in place of our “project of the month”. (Something that often happens in the field, but seldom at the factory). The product is Light Tower, and, as those of you who attended the National Sales Meeting can attest, it is truly a work of lighting art. Light Tower can only be described as a functional sculpture as it makes a dramatic architectural statement, while providing very effective lighting performance.

The Light Tower, as you see in the accompanying photos, stands thirty-seven feet above grade at our Villingen headquarters. It has been duplicated here in Gaffney so the trip to see it is shorter.

There are thirty-two 150 watt CMH projector floodlights with 5° beam spread optics in the concrete “pit”. The light level is 10-14 FC over 104’ square area, however, the illuminated area can be increased to 230’ x 230’ by adjusting panel angles. The projector floodlights can also be circuited to provide different light levels. For example, the Light Tower could be used to light entry plazas for stadiums or convention centers, where lighting could be programmed at one level for day-to-day scenarios and increased significantly for events, such as game day or during a convention. Limited use of color filters also allows the designer to illuminate reflector panels with colored lighting for effect during reduced operating levels.

The dramatic structural form attracts attention both day or night. The ¾” stainless steel cables provide a high-tech accent, but also add structural support for higher wind zone applications.

Anyone attending the sales meeting received a DVD presentation of the Light Tower. So for those who did not come, talk nicely with your associates who did and I am sure you can use their copy. This is a very dramatic product and I am sure visiting specifiers will find it interesting.

Come see us!

In a continuing effort to grow our market through quality representation, we are pleased to announce the following rep appointments. Welcome aboard!