VALDOSTA — Shannon and Michael Hurst offer personalized service, lots of attention and modern and environmentally friendly lights.

The Hurst couple has found the perfect spot and business to complement Valdosta and neighboring businesses.

In March, Shannon and Michael Hurst opened Lighting Concepts at 11619 Troupeville Road. The neighboring stores both deal in floors.

“It’s a good area for customers looking for flooring and lighting,” Shannon Hurst said.

The economy did not discourage them. In fact, it motivated them even more to keep learning and improving in order to serve their customers better.

“We were very pleased and excited to get started in this economy because we were thinking it was going to be slow in the beginning, but we thought it would give us a chance to learn more about the business, to grow and to improve as the economy grew,” Shannon Hurst said.

What kept Shannon and Michael Hurst going was the feedback they received from some of their first customers, such as builders and homeowners who were pleased to learn there was a new showroom in Valdosta.

“We had so many people coming in and saying, ‘Oh, so I don’t have to drive to Atlanta now,’” said Shannon Hurst.

Keeping the business local turned into their goal.

“We want to keep the people spending their money in Valdosta, not in Atlanta,” she added.

Lighting Concepts offers a selection of up-to-date lighting trends, lamps, and interior accessories, all in a wide range of prices, from budget friendly to luxurious. There is also an interior designer on the staff.

“For these customers who are having some difficulties making decisions, we can send our designer to the home or job site, and she can help them make the right decisions,” said Shannon Hurst.

Lighting Concepts is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Call (229) 249-8158 to learn more.



Q: Do you plan to expand your current location?



A: If we find out that customers need some items, then yes, we would expand. When we built our showroom, we built it with the thought that we may expand as far as the structure of the facility.



Q: How do your services differ from the chain stores?



A: We are going to help the customer find the right size fixture, and we are going to take the time to give our customers choices and options so that their money would be well spent, whereas, with some of the chain stores, they may not get that service. And also, the customer needs to be aware that the amount of lighting they are going to be getting will be sufficient for the room size because having too much lighting is just as annoying as not having enough lighting. So, we try to ask the customers all the right questions, so we know they are getting the right fixture.



Q: Do you accept orders?



A: We have a lot of items in inventory. Usually, customers come in here and get an idea of what they want, and they want that, but they want it like this. So, we do a lot of special ordering for folks.



Q: What should people know about lighting?



A: Another thing we want our customers to get educated on is that every time you turn your TV on they are talking about how America needs to save on electricity. We have some really good lights with compact fluorescent bulbs, and we try to educate our customers as far as the energy savings. Ninety-nine percent of our showroom is compact fluorescent, and we’ve noticed a dramatic decrease in our power bill. When you see such a decrease in your power bill, it makes you excited and makes you want to educate your customers about what they could be doing in their homes. Also, there is less heating from the lamps, so that’s a decrease in cooling costs as well.



Q: What would you tell your customers?



A: We have done our homework as far as the lighting industry. We have attended classes and have gone to numerous trade shows to get educated, so we can be helpful to our customers.