Store owner has bright idea to share

Bradley Chalmers knows light bulbs - and wiring, fixtures and European contemporary style.

By Julien Bellin, Times Correspondent
Published March 1, 2008

Lighting & Bulbs Supply offers a variety of pendants, such as this low-voltage halogen model that sells for $129.
	[Brendan Fitterer | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Brendan Fitterer | Times] Bradley Chalmers is president of Lighting & Bulbs Supply in Land O'Lakes, his second lighting store. Chalmers hopes to build a 10,000-square-foot building on the 1.25-acre lot where the showroom sits.

LAND O'LAKES - When Bradley Chalmers came to Florida from his native South Africa 14 years ago, he arrived with four suitcases, $1,000 and his wife and daughter alongside him.

Not long after that, he put all his bulbs in one basket, opening a light bulb supply store with his brother.

Though he did so facing a substantial risk and not knowing the American market too well, Chalmers said, "I have an electrical background, I had a good idea of what I was selling and I saw the size of the cities and the residential spread in Tampa, so I knew that I could feel confident in the market."

His confidence turned out to be justified and it wasn't long before Chalmers decided that selling simple bulbs (though they come in abundant varieties) was not enough.

He figured that people would want more from a lighting store, such as fixtures and accessories in a showroom setting, where customers could browse through a selection of the latest styles in lighting.

He was right, and though the real estate and home improvement industries are experiencing lows, he has found that industrial and commercial clients like Tim Fuxam, a contractor who mostly custom-wires kitchens, still need his services and appreciate his 12 years of experience with lighting.

Fuxam says of Chalmers and his staff "they're a pleasure to do business with. They do business the way America used to do business: There's no arrogance, they don't jerk my chain, they have what I need in stock, they offer good prices and transactions always run smoothly ... these things are very important to me."

In 2006, Chalmers decided to open another store on his own, this one in Land O'Lakes where he lives with his family. The store is similar to the one he ran with his brother in that the customers can get one-on-one advice for highly specialized small jobs or big value engineered package jobs at wholesale prices.

His aim is to have people walk away knowing their project received exactly the attention it required.

Chalmers also says he is only just beginning. Within 18 months, he hopes to build a 10,000-square-foot building on the 1.25-acre lot where the showroom now sits.

Lighting & Bulbs Supply Inc. specializes in European contemporary style light fixtures; however, his inventory offers more traditional lighting styles as well. With over 25,000 bulbs in his inventory, Chalmers says his store can supply just about any light bulb people might need.

About the store

Lighting & Bulbs Supply is at 5110 Land O'Lakes Blvd. and online at www.lightingandbulbssupply.com.

[Last modified February 29, 2008, 21:25:46]