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With over 14 years of experience in the landscape lighting industry, Ryan Lee reveals the secrets behind his success growing and exiting a multi million dollar landscape lighting company. Click one of the links below to check out the Lighting For Profits podcast, and discover how to go from overworked business operator, to 7 figure owner.
Simplify and Scale: Two Big Lessons from the Lighting Design Seat
Simplify and Scale: Two Big Lessons from the Lighting Design Seat
Last week, I found myself back in the lighting design seat. Normally, Patrick Harders—who’s been leading design for over 25 years—handles these calls. But with him unavailable and the backups tied up, I had to step in.
I’ll be honest—my nerves kicked in. I don’t usually get the jitters when talking about sales, profits, or pricing (that’s my lane), but design felt a little different. Thankfully, the experience turned out to be a blast and left me with two major reminders worth sharing.
1. Simplify Your Designs to Scale
Lighting professionals often lean into artistry—and that’s what makes their work stand out. But overcomplicating designs can become a roadblock to profitability. If every project requires ten different lamps, beam spreads, and color temps, you’re setting up a future maintenance nightmare and wasting valuable time.
The fix? Simplify. Stick to one color temperature (2700K or 3000K), two lamp options (4W and 7W), and two beam spreads (40° and 60°). That’s just four lamps total—enough to cover 90% of projects efficiently and profitably.
2. Design with Intention
Homeowners don’t always recognize what’s missing until you show them. To the untrained eye, one uplight on a tree might look fine. But two, placed intentionally, can transform that tree into a three-dimensional feature.
You’re not just selling fixtures. You’re not even selling light. You’re selling intention. When you explain or demonstrate how your design enhances safety, beauty, and functionality, clients stop questioning your price and start questioning why others are so cheap.
The Balance: Artistry + Business
At the end of the day, you need both sides: artistry and scalability. By simplifying your process and designing with intention, you’ll stay profitable while delivering a premium experience. That’s how you build a business that lasts—without accidentally running a nonprofit.
Keep moving forward!
—Ryan Lee
# lighting design, outdoor lighting business, simplify lighting design, lighting design tips, scalable lighting business, lighting design strategy, profitable lighting business, landscape lighting, lighting design principles #
Simplify and Scale: Two Big Lessons from the Lighting Design Seat
Simplify and Scale: Two Big Lessons from the Lighting Design Seat
Last week, I found myself back in the lighting design seat. Normally, Patrick Harders—who’s been leading design for over 25 years—handles these calls. But with him unavailable and the backups tied up, I had to step in.
I’ll be honest—my nerves kicked in. I don’t usually get the jitters when talking about sales, profits, or pricing (that’s my lane), but design felt a little different. Thankfully, the experience turned out to be a blast and left me with two major reminders worth sharing.
1. Simplify Your Designs to Scale
Lighting professionals often lean into artistry—and that’s what makes their work stand out. But overcomplicating designs can become a roadblock to profitability. If every project requires ten different lamps, beam spreads, and color temps, you’re setting up a future maintenance nightmare and wasting valuable time.
The fix? Simplify. Stick to one color temperature (2700K or 3000K), two lamp options (4W and 7W), and two beam spreads (40° and 60°). That’s just four lamps total—enough to cover 90% of projects efficiently and profitably.
2. Design with Intention
Homeowners don’t always recognize what’s missing until you show them. To the untrained eye, one uplight on a tree might look fine. But two, placed intentionally, can transform that tree into a three-dimensional feature.
You’re not just selling fixtures. You’re not even selling light. You’re selling intention. When you explain or demonstrate how your design enhances safety, beauty, and functionality, clients stop questioning your price and start questioning why others are so cheap.
The Balance: Artistry + Business
At the end of the day, you need both sides: artistry and scalability. By simplifying your process and designing with intention, you’ll stay profitable while delivering a premium experience. That’s how you build a business that lasts—without accidentally running a nonprofit.
Keep moving forward!
—Ryan Lee
# lighting design, outdoor lighting business, simplify lighting design, lighting design tips, scalable lighting business, lighting design strategy, profitable lighting business, landscape lighting, lighting design principles #
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