Establishing Retail Relationships Will Play Key Role in Taking Advantage of Utility Incentive Programs in California and Other Areas of the Country
PureSpectrum (OTCBB: PRSU) has continued to fortify and expand the company's sales platform by establishing connections with multiple regional and national retailers that should enable the company to participate in incentive programs created and supported by utility companies to encourage consumers to purchase and use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL).
Earlier this month, PureSpectrum was invited to attend a planning session hosted by three of California's largest utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), to discuss California's Utility Residential Lighting Incentive programs for 2010. The programs allow retailers in California to offer CFLs at a discounted rate and are part of California's ongoing effort to promote energy efficient lighting as a means to reduce carbon footprint and conserve energy.
PureSpectrum was invited to attend the meeting by the Residential Energy Efficiency Program Manager for PG&E. The company is selling a 20-watt dimmable CFL and will launch two additional dimmable CFL products in the first quarter of 2010 once the products successfully complete testing to receive approval from Underwriters Laboratory and Energy's Energy Star.
PureSpectrum has steadily received moderate volume purchase orders for its 20-watt dimmable CFL from electrical distributors and contractors since the product was formally launched at the end of the third quarter of 2009, and the company has spurred additional sales by making its products available online through websites such as www.microlamp.com and www.amazon.com. The company expects sales volume to expand rapidly and dramatically in 2010 as a result of fully developed relationships with distributors and large retailers as well as the introduction of additional performance-driven, consumer-friendly CFL products.
"We were invited to the planning session in California because utilities are interested in the unique dimming capability of our CFLs and the additional energy saving properties and performance characteristics that our bulbs offer," said PureSpectrum sales program manager Jeff Smith, who represented the company in California during the two-day meeting. "To my knowledge we were the only new manufacturer invited to participate this year, and the value of a utility-supported programs is the availability of a primary channel for consumers to become more comfortable and familiar with our CFLs. We believe participating in these programs will enhance consumer familiarity with not only our brand name but also the reliability and benefits of our products. The utility companies want to include PureSpectrum products in this program because of the additional energy conservation available through dimming, and we expect to be able to secure relationships with multiple retail outlets and increase brand awareness that will lead to consumers choosing to buy PureSpectrum CFLs."
According to Smith, each utility manages its own program within its respective service areas, but there is collaboration among the organizations to standardize forms and reporting procedures in order to track and document sales from the incentive programs. Because the utilities dedicate a considerable budget to these programs, the utilities work closely with lighting manufacturers to build awareness of the programs and develop familiarity with participating retail outlets.
In order to develop retail partnerships that will enable the company to participate in California's incentive programs, PureSpectrum has initiated a direct marketing effort to major lighting buyers such as big box stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, general merchandise stores, drugstores and specialty lighting stores. The company has completed the initial vendor application process with several retail outlets and will continue to identify potential retail partners during the first quarter of 2010.
"As we connect with retail outlets and develop ongoing relationship, we believe those relationships will have a direct impact on our sales efforts throughout the United States and Canada where utilities and municipalities sponsor lighting incentive programs that include retail partnerships," Smith said. "We have successfully established relationships with distributors throughout the country and continue to build and strengthen those relationships. Now that we are able to bring more dimmable products to market, we feel confident that we are going to be able to carve out a niche for ourselves with consumers as a dependable, fairly priced specialty lighting product."
ABOUT PURESPECTRUM
PureSpectrum, Inc. is a technology-driven lighting company headquartered in Savannah, Ga., that is striving to develop performance based technology solutions for energy efficient lighting in multiple categories. The company's mission is grounded in the quest to preserve natural resources and a belief that energy efficient lighting will be embraced and absorbed through improved performance. PureSpectrum is designing technology and products that enable energy conservation and improved performance without increased cost or confusion for the consumer. PureSpectrum plans to continue its commitment to researching and developing technologies and products that satisfy consumer demand and advance the cause of energy conservation. Please call (912) 961-4980 or visit www.purespectrumlighting.com for more information on PureSpectrum.
Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements.Because such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market acceptance for PureSpectrum's products and services, its ability to succeed in growing revenue, the effect of new competitors in its market, integration of acquired businesses, and other risk factors identified from time to time by PureSpectrum. For additional information concerning risk factors, search for PSRU at www.otcbb.com and refer to the securities filings listed under the filings tab.
Contacts:
PureSpectrum, Inc.
Stephen Weeks, 912-484-9743
sweeks@purespectrumlighting.com