Lighting Sales Representative Careers

Lighting sales representatives are responsible for selling lighting products. Some work as employees of lighting manufacturing companies, but most lighting sales “reps” are employed by independent agencies that have contracts to sell the products of several lighting companies in a specific city, state, region or country.

As a normal part of their work, sales representatives offer lighting design and application assistance to architects, interior designers, engineers, lighting designers, and other specifiers of lighting. They “call on” specifiers, contractors and distributors, ensuring that product information is made available and catalogs are kept up-to-date. Once the lighting for a project is specified, the rep negotiates the price for the product on behalf of the actual manufacturer, and sells the product to the electrical distributor. Reps also assist with warranty services and make sure that the products they have sold perform properly. For lighting sales representatives, being genuinely knowledgeable about lighting is important in demonstrating their value to their customers.

In large metropolitan areas, sales agencies can be major businesses, some with gross sales of over $50 million per year. In these companies, there are a number of different job descriptions, including outside sales, inside sales, customer service, design assistance, accounting and management. In smaller agencies, of course, everyone does almost everything.

Educational Requirements: Although a degree in lighting design or a related field is helpful, a business background is also very important.