|
Post by Parkman on May 9, 2019 6:13:45 GMT -5
That's a great point about blade arms outdoors, things like the Morpheus from Modern Forms are ideal because the blade structure is very solid and there's no weak point. Even things with a hub like the Fanimation Zonix Wet have blade breakage issues because of the weak point where they meet the hub/housing. While the Kichler Surrey was excellent and actually has very beefy arms, I live in a very windy climate so I'd be careful about making selections for my own application. Emerson is fantastic, always. Even I don't talk about them as much because 1: they aren't one of the brands reaching out to work with me anymore, and 2: their retail prices don't typically make them a viable recommendation for me. But I'm on very good terms with them and always enjoy seeing their stuff. They're a little more on-trend this year with some mixed metal intros, etc. and I hear smart fans are supposed to be coming, so they're about to step up right there with Modern Forms and Fanimation on that front. What holds me back is the price, every time. If you can get a deal, great. But at retail, you CAN do better for less these days. Emerson and Casablanca were the pinnacle of quality regardless of price for decades, that's completely out the window now. I'd choose Kichler and Quorum for build. I'd choose Fanimation and Modern Forms for design, performance, and versatility of install as well as the technology aspects. I still like Casablanca for certain more niche categories, like the traditional aspect of the Panama and new DC products like the Aya. I'd choose Matthews or Star for a more specialty product with passion for the design and quality. I'd choose higher end Hunter for very specific niches of design where they offer something nobody else does, or select models within the line where you can get a decent fan at a much lower price. Emerson still has the great build quality, but there's nothing else to help warrant the price when others have stepped up their build. If they'd gotten to smart fans sooner I'd be back onboard with their pricing, but Modern Forms came in and drastically lowered the cost of full accessibility to that market. I'm guessing Emerson's smart products are not going to dip below the $300 mark. In case anybody's unaware, Emerson just sold the Air Comfort Products division to Luminance Brands, parent group of Concord Fans and other lighting brands. While the current plans sound like very little change aside from a new separate office, I'm not sure how I feel about this in the long run, and the sentiment has been similar from some of my other trusted industry friends. It will be interesting to see if anything changes, for better or worse. We will of course not see anything overnight, but it is a big shakeup that doesn't exactly have me particularly excited, as opposed to the way Regency being acquired by Hinkley Lighting definitely did because I think their products will be vastly elevated. Here is the article from Enlightenment: www.enlightenmentmag.com/news/emerson-ceiling-fans-to-join-luminance-familyI was unaware of this. I saw you post something on Facebook I believe about this but I read it as they were partnering up. The question I have is obviously will the quality remain? Aren't Concord's junk?? There has definitely been quite a shakeup in the last few years of mergers/acquisitions that I can't say I'm happy about. I guess I'm becoming a grumpy old man in my late 20's but this makes me rather uneasy. I guess this is how some of the older collectors feel that you can't buy anything new with guaranteed quality.
|
|
|
Post by Parkman on May 10, 2019 8:23:51 GMT -5
Here's another question I have... Since the Emerson Company is still in business are they going to keep the Emerson name? Or is it going to be merged into Concord (BLEHHHH!!!)
|
|
|
Post by Noah C on May 10, 2019 11:53:00 GMT -5
Here's another question I have... Since the Emerson Company is still in business are they going to keep the Emerson name? Or is it going to be merged into Concord (BLEHHHH!!!) Given the retention of all of the original Emerson workforce and the retention of the general manager of Emerson's Air Comforts division, Emerson will most likely retain the Emerson name. What this seems to me is an expansion of the Emerson name that now financially benefits the Concord division of Luminance Brands, and potentially some expansion for Concord, like a mutualistic relationship in biology; both companies can gain market share in other markets overseas, using Luminance Brands' parent company's larger corporate roots as a conduit for this to happen. Emerson lacks global market presence compared to Fanimation, Minka Aire (Air-Cool made stuff), Hunter, even Modern Fan Co. Emerson's only really prevalent in the US and in Canada, and with profits over their last fiscal period down, Emerson was likely looking to get their ceiling fan division off their hands. Due to the nature of this decision (that I personally don't care for too much, but understand well enough to be apathetic to), the corporate changes here are very unlikely to trickle down directly to Emerson's fans. The only manifestation of direct product change for Emerson and Concord fans I can see is the integration of one Smart fan control across both lineups (the BryteHome deal or whatever). Since the whole original Emerson air comforts workforce has been retained, along with all manufacturing/tooling components and the whole corporate structure up to the general manager (GM), there is no justifiable reason for mass change throughout Emerson's fan lineup other than customary changes that come annually (new products). If anything, this gives Luminance Brands incentive to overhaul the Concord lineup of fans, which generates little sales due to lack of availability through showrooms and many online retailers, and is filled with cheap builderfan-grade fans from 10-15 years ago. The only thing I can say is that this along with market pressures towards DC motors for residential ceiling fans costing above $300 (higher end stuff) essentially means that the Premium Select and Crown Select are probably getting axed within 5-at most 10 years since fans costing $500 like those are usually DC now. The Penbrooke Select (K55), which is a solid $150 less due to no uplight, will likely continue on until it's out of style. When that gets axed, Emerson won't have any other K55XL fans in the lineup. So for those worried about the K55 (most showrooms), there you go. The K55 is not gonna be around too much longer, realistically.
|
|
|
Post by Cole S. on May 12, 2019 0:20:30 GMT -5
I do agree with that analysis based on where it is right now. Emerson has definitely wanted to shed the fan line for a minute, I'll be thankful they sold it and didn't just quit altogether. I think more of the industry concern that I'm sensing is the management on the Luminance end and where it goes. I'm not familiar, I've not done anything in any true capacity with any of their brands whether it be professional or consumer, but it's a weird vibe. They've set it up to run quite as it has for now while inserting their points of expertise, but i have greater concerns for where it goes five or ten years down the line with where they sit within this entity. Where you have Kichler and Quoizel that went into companies with portfolios of products, they maintain their market expertise. Put someone into another same-industry umbrella without the correct backing and structure, you might have a dead line in a decade. It's happened before, lots of times in lighting. Right now they have the structure, where the structure goes with time is the question. Emerson's got massively knowledgable and influential people on the back end nearing the point of potentially retiring. Do we replace them with Luminance rookies? Who knows. My point is, I don't know if Luminance has the expertise with this specific type of product line so I think it's a little iffy as this develops in many future years. It could be fine, it could not be. By comparison, Regency going into Hinkley is set up for major success with Russ Klingel and John Moody onboard. They did big stuff with Kichler and will do it again. Emerson has that kind of success built in for the time being. I will also say, I like your outlook on how this affects the entire Luminance portfolio. If this initial sort of foreboding vibe is wrong, we could see some really neat stuff out of this.
As an aside, I wish they'd keep the Dallas Market showroom separate. That's a crazy expense which I can believe is hard to warrant, but it's SO cool to go into a big showroom at Lightovation that's just solid fans, and there are so few of them now. Emerson, Fanimation, Hunter/Casablanca. That's kinda it I think. Matthews is close but they have lighting with the WPT brand. Emerson is always a bit of a favorite because they have a line that's contained enough to really show every single one of their products. That's cool to see. I'm afraid they'll be limited in a new space that's part of another showroom.
|
|
|
Post by ceilingfansmalta on May 12, 2019 8:38:44 GMT -5
I think the O.Erre R 140 IPX (similar to Relite Rapide MKII but with cone canopies) might be a good fan, and has an elegant look to it.
|
|