LICODA

Every time I enter the office I am eventually greeted by a wall of lighting catalogs. Approximately 350 vertical square feet of shelves jam packed with binders ranging in size and color. I believe there may have been a time when the size of a specifier’s catalog collection reflected on their stature in the industry, certainly their knowledge, and perhaps their abilities. These days are gone.

I have often asked myself and my colleges “Why do we keep these things around?”. The answer, quite simply, is that the online catalog has not incorporated the browsable nature of traditional catalogs - or has it.

Luminaire websites are rarely built to allow a user the ability to flip through or browse a manufacturer’s product offering without first knowing something about their products. Or, the user may be required to traverse an array of web pages (link-click, followed by back button, repeat) just to see the goods. Traditional hard-copy catalogs allow the specifier to view, page-turn by page-turn, the entire offering - at the time of printing.

Ah, here is the dilemma. How does a manufacturer offer the up-to-the-minute content of a webpage with the experience of a catalog?

Perhaps the .pdf file format can solve this problem. The simple stroke of the “page down” key is strikingly similar to a page turn. If the file is created with a proper table of contents and/or use of built-in bookmarks, similar to tabbed page dividers, then maybe the digital catalog will replace traditional catalogs. We can finally free up that wall space for award certificates, inspirational display boards or a new flatscreen and gaming console.

I don’t know if this is the answer to the current question running through the minds of the industry. But, I do know for sure, I’m going to find out.