Member Benefits
for Agencies and Manufacturers
Select a Membership category to learn more about qualifications, benefits, and fees.
Independent Lighting Agent Membership
Those who run Independent Lighting Agencies understand the unique complexities involved with the various projects we lead for our clients. Becoming a member of AAILA aligns you with lighting industry professionals from around the country who understand your unique challenges and opportunities. It also provides you with a direct line to a multitude of lighting and controls manufacturers ready to offer various solutions and expertise.
If you are involved in the lighting sales community, you can’t afford not to be a member of AAILA.
Qualifications
To be eligible as a Lighting Agent member, an applicant must be:
- A firm, partnership, or corporation engaged as an independent manufacturers’ representative of lighting and/or controls products and services, operating in North America.
- A publicly available line card
- Contractual agreements with manufacturers of lighting fixtures, poles and/or controls.
Each company shall appoint one individual from the organization to serve as the official voting representative at AAILA Membership Meetings.
Annual Membership Investment:
- Agency – more than 40 employees: $1,900
- Agency – 10-40 employees: $1,400
- Less than 10 employees: $900
Membership Features:
- Training and Education – many training modules have been developed virtually for easy access
- Special Membership Events – generally held in conjunction with national lighting shows
- Industry Research and Updates – the pace of business has become increasingly fast, staying informed is a must
- Volunteer Opportunities – AAILA is a volunteer led organization, affording you and your team with various opportunities to contribute, connect, and lead
- Discounts – who doesn’t like to get a deal?
Manufacturer Membership
Not only does AAILA offer business development opportunities, but membership also aligns you with other lighting industry professionals committed to strengthening their understanding of the lighting sales channel. Manufacturers members are key partners in AAILA and are invited to get involved at all levels.
Qualifications
To be eligible as a Manufacturer member, an applicant must be:
- A firm, partnership, or corporation with offices located in North America
- Engaged in manufacturing of lighting and/or controls products and or as a Master Representative.
- Is listed on three publicly available independent lighting agent line cards (to be submitted upon application) and have contractual agreements with independent lighting agents who sell and/or specify lighting fixtures, poles and/or controls.
Each company shall appoint one individual from the organization to serve as the official voting representative at AAILA Membership Meetings.
Annual Membership Investment: $1,650
Membership Features:
- Education – manufacturers are invited to host educational webinars for members
- Special Membership Events – generally held in conjunction with national lighting shows
- Industry Research and Updates – leverage our network of lighting agents to get feedback for your product, service, or business
- Volunteer Opportunities – AAILA is a volunteer led organization, affording you and your team with various opportunities to contribute, connect, and lead
- Discounts – who doesn’t like to get a deal?
TRAINING WEBINARS
Agency 101 Series
Developed in partnership with The Lighting Exchange, our Agency 101 Series is a turnkey training solution tailored to our industry. When onboarding a new employee at either an agency or a manufacturer, it is critical for them to have a firm grasp of how the lighting market works, agency and manufacturer roles, and how everyone fits in and contributes to selling lighting and controls.
Not only is this series unique and specific to the lighting sales channel, but it is also taught by individuals working within the channel. This results in a dynamic, engaging, and inclusive training experience sure to get your employees up to speed quickly.
Summary of Training Series
Module 1: Lighting Agency Basics
Defining the Industry: Channels / Sectors / Markets
What is an Independent Lighting Agency?
Relationships & Expectations of Primary Stakeholder
Customer Overview
Intro to Projects & Product Types
Module 2: Agency Roles & Responsibilities
Outside Sales
Inside Sales
Module 3: Manufacturer Operations
Departments, Roles & Responsibilities
Production Overview
Understanding Manufacturer Terms
Module 4: Organizations, Governance & Standard
Organizations, Standards & Certifications (Pt 1)
Organizations, Standards & Certifications (Pt 2)
Selling Light Series Webinars
Opportunities in the Nighttime Environment
With the support from the Lighting Agora, our panelists – Shirley Coyle, Leni Schwendinger, and Bob Parks, CFLC, LC, MIES are lead by host Dan Blitzer in a wide ranging discussion describing the opportunities in front of all lighting salespeople related to outdoor lighting and how we capitalize on them together.
Selling Opportunities with TM-30
We are excited to have experts in the field discussing this topic exclusively for our members – Deborah Gottesman, MBA, PEng, Assoc IALD, LC, Tony Esposito, PhD, and Jason Livingston.
Login to learn more and view webinars.
Are you a member but don’t have a login? Contact us.
Events
The Art of Email Marketing: 20-Minute Master Class presented by NE PARADIGM
Wednesday, May 15
3:00 pm EST via Zoom
Members Only
Register
Welcome to NE PARADIGM’S third masterclass in their four-part Marketing with Intention masterclass series, The Art of Email Marketing! In this 20-minute masterclass, we will explore the key strategies and techniques to help you maximize your success with email marketing. From developing your message by audience to selecting the right platform that works for you and your business, this webinar will provide you with the guidance you need to take your email marketing to the next level.
2025 Annual Member Reception
Save the Date!
Monday, March 17, 2025
Each year, senior members of AAILA Member companies convene just prior to one of the industry’s leading events, LEDucation. This is a great way to connect with industry colleagues before the show begins. Check out the pictures from our last event here.
Questions? Email us at info@lightingagents.org.
Surveys
Results available to members
AAILA Commissioned Industry Surveys
Independent benchmark survey of Manufacturers
- What would help manufacturers improve their business?
Independent benchmark survey of Agents
- What would help agents improve their business?
Customer and influencers surveys
- What issues can lighting manufacturers and agents solve?
Get Involved
AAILA is a nonprofit trade association who is governed by a volunteer board and volunteer committees. Volunteers are critical to the advancement of AAILA’s mission.
We are currently accepting nominations for various positions within AAILA. Interested candidates should contact Sarah Hagy to get involved.
Member Volunteer Opportunities
Board of Directors
Committees
- Education
- Events
- Survey
Member Discounts
Manufacturers' Representatives Educational Research Foundation
Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF) will provide access at association rates for educational training programs. Through its certifying body, The Institute for Professional Advancement (IPA), it has been delivering certification programs and workshops to reps, distributors and manufacturers.
Agent Benefits
Certified Professional Manufacturers’ Representative (CPMR) is a 3-year program that meets in January for a week. This program provides an extensive learning experience in addition to networking with others from other industries. First year attendees learn foundational business management skills including: Business Ethics | Technology Solution Analysis | Legal Issues | Intro to Strategy | Financial Foundations | Understanding the Manufacturer | Workforce of Today | Sales Communication and Resources
Manufacturer Benefits
Manufacturers’ 2 day workshop is for sales leaders and managers to learn the tools and processes needed to create strategic partnerships with reps so that you can increase sales.
National Purchasing Partners
Members of the American Association of Independent Lighting Agents can now access business, employee, and personal discounts through National Purchasing Partners (NPP). NPP is a new member benefit provider of AAILA and helps members reduce costs with exclusive pricing.
Members can save on many useful brands, including Batteries + Bulbs, Office Depot (ODP), Sherwin-Williams, Airgas, Priceline, Staples, if eligible Verizon, and more. Sign up at https://mynpp.com/association/aaila/. Once you sign up with NPP, you will receive a verification email. When your account is verified, just log in and explore the catalog of offers. NPP membership is free and there is no obligation to buy. If you need help registering, please contact customerservice@mynpp.com or call 800.810.3909.