Morlights

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior exhibition project manager at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in Chicago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morlights?

We needed their team to help us set up gallery lighting and specialty lighting for our exhibition space’s elements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Morlights drew and designed their proposed lighting for our space. After that, they helped us procure the necessary materials, including the lighting equipment.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 2–3 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Morlights?

I worked with their team before when I was part of other organizations. Their team also did some previous lighting work for MSI.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from November 2019–December 2020. It took that long because we had to pause our operations in the middle of the project due to COVID-19 restrictions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We were very happy with the quality of Morlight’s work. The exhibit looked beautiful — we had it photographed and featured in the Chicago Tribute and other known newspapers. Everyone was just impressed with the result.

How did Morlights perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication with Morlights was always very clear — they were proactive in giving us solutions and scheduling their tasks. We never encountered any issues in terms of project management because their team knew how to deliver reliably.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was definitely an advantage to have worked with a local group of their team’s caliber — they were very hands-on in the installation process and the other phases of the project. We had a really positive working relationship because Morlights was a flexible company. They delivered what we were looking for, both aesthetic and budget-wise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. They were a great partner to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and flexible — explore other options and make sure to consider their recommendations and feedback. That alone could go a long way because their team really knows how to get the job done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a women-only fitness studio based in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and I started this company eight years ago. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Morlights?

Most gyms have very strong masculine colors such as black and red, and to me, they were not relaxing. That’s why I decided to build my company and wanted it to be women-only — because women like nicer things. 

When I did some research, I found out about how important lighting was and I started looking online about colors that were relaxing. That’s the reason why we hired Morlights. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I talked to Avraham (Founder & Principal) about lighting and he showed me what could be done. I shared with him that I didn’t want the lighting to be harsh because most of my members were mostly older women. A lot of them also had bad experiences at the gym. Additionally, I wanted softness from the time they walked into my entryway.

I also had other ideas in mind such as the colors I wanted, but what I needed from Avraham was his guidance. He used an AutoCAD to show me how our lighting would be like. 

I had been in the same location for eight years and I plan to move to a new location. Avraham knows that I’m going to move in another year and a half, and he offered to go with me as I look for a new spot for my business. That way, he can have a couple of ideas of what he needs to build for us on our next project together.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Avraham most of the time. 

How did you come to work with Morlights?

I reached out to Avraham because he’s my friend’s son, and that the reason’s why I heard about him. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $7,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2013, and we have an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

When Avraham showed me how our lighting would be like, it was so cool because I’d never seen anything like that before. It was really nice to see it and be into it, so I’m looking forward to collaborating with him again. In the end, I loved that I could change the lights in my studio depending on the mood. I also have frosted huge lights that I could turn on, off, and dim. 

I have no complaints about Morlights’ service. I’ve received positive comments from the day I opened my doors to external stakeholders. They’ve raved about my lighting and they told me they’ve never seen anything like it. Overall, I like being set apart from other fitness centers. 

How did Morlights perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management process is good. At first, he kept sending me emails that were very detailed, but I didn’t want that. After that, Avraham’s process changed and whenever he finishes a project, we sit down and I tell him my feedback. With our new dynamics, things have been smoother. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They think outside the box and they’re not just a typical studio. Moreover, they really present the reasons why I have to spend a certain amount of money on the project. They’re able to clearly explain things, and that’s important. It’s similar to what I do in my company, where I explain to my customers why we do certain exercises.  

Avraham listens to me, takes note of what I want, and delivers it. Once we’ve established our communication lines, we didn’t experience any hiccups and nothing got out of hand. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since we’re going to work together again, he can learn more about DISC profile communication, because some people who own their business usually don’t like long emails. Businesspeople are usually very direct and Avraham is probably more detail-oriented. 

We can quickly hit our goals if he understands communication styles, so he has to learn to communicate with me. I can’t think of anything else they can improve; I just hope my next studio is even more unique. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look at lighting as an essential part of your business. My studio wouldn’t have stood out if it wasn’t for the colors that Morlights chose for us. 

I’ve never seen my studio with beautiful blue and aqua hues and it's all on my walls, lightings, and fixtures. If you want something outside of the box that doesn’t break the bank, Morlights is a great design company.