The exterior of a home after dark with lights on the foliage

2018 Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Franchisee Of The Year

Franchisee smilingBlending a successful landscape business with an Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise made perfect sense to Bob McCusker. McCusker started his landscape design company in Pennsylvania shortly after graduating from college in 2007. He enjoyed many years of developing it into a thriving business before he decided to acquire an Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise.

“My landscape design business began with a focus on horticulture and we gradually added stonework, outdoor kitchens and patios into the landscape design plans as well as outdoor lighting,” said McCusker. He enjoyed the lighting aspect of landscape design and realized he wanted to have a separate focus strictly on outdoor lighting.

After hearing an advertisement for Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, McCusker decided to learn more about acquiring a local franchise. He discovered that Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the largest landscape lighting franchise in the world offering professionally designed, installed and maintained residential and commercial low-voltage landscape lighting systems as well as holiday lighting services. As part of Outdoor Living Brands, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives has locations throughout the United States as well as a few international locations.

McCusker was intrigued by what he learned about Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and was drawn to the branding and to the technical support offered to franchisees. In 2014, McCusker officially became an Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchisee by licensing Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Delaware Valley.

“I found it easy to marry the two businesses,” stated McClusker. Many of his jobs already incorporated landscape plants, hardscape and lighting and he found that he talked about lighting on every landscape job. McCusker felt well prepared for the addition of the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise. He commented that “I already had the field and office operations for the landscape business and doing the same for the lighting business was not difficult.”

As McCusker reflects on the reality that he could have started an outdoor lighting company on his own, he remarked that “I chose to be a part of a franchise system instead.” In addition to the support, the product, and the branding, he values the interaction with other franchisees that comes with being part of a franchise system. “I have developed incredible relationships with other franchisees and we talk all the time, trading ideas and sharing advice,” said McCusker. The fact that other franchisees have similar challenges and experiences and that they learn from the shared experiences is an aspect of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives that McCusker appreciates.

When McCusker first started his Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise, he wore several hats within the business. As he built his team, he focused on sales exclusively and created the opportunity for the rest of his team to focus on their specific roles. He emphasizes customer service and is proud of the work culture he created and how his Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise has grown.

His peers and franchisor have taken note of the growth of his business and the contribution to the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchise system. For example, each year Outdoor Lighting Perspectives designates a leading and successful franchisee with the recognition of Franchisee of the Year. Four years after acquiring his franchise, McCusker was recognized the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Franchisee of the Year for 2018.

About Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

Established in 1995, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the nation’s first and largest full-service low voltage outdoor lighting company. With over 150,000 installations across the United States and abroad, the franchise is known for skillful, custom design for the hospitality industry, commercial businesses, and residences. Featured in Lodging Engineer, Lodging, Architectural Digest, Garden Design, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Coastal Living, Country Living, HGTV Magazine and Martha Stewart Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives features stunning handcrafted copper and brass LED outdoor lighting fixtures saving clients up to 75% in energy costs with bulb life between 5 to 10 years. As a part of Outdoor Living Brands, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives’s sister brands include Archadeck, Conserva Irrigation, and Renew Crew. Visit OutdoorLightingFranchise.com or OutdoorLights.com to learn more.

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