CASE STUDY

Built for Blain's Farm & Fleet

Major Retail Chain Selects Michigan Lighting Manufacturer

Facility: Blain’s Farm & Fleet Stores
Location: Multiple Locations, Michigan
Application: Area Lighting
End Customer: Blain’s Farm & Fleet
Partner: West Michigan Lighting – Manufacturer’s Rep
Partner: McGowan Electric – Distributor

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ABOUT BLAIN'S FARM & FLEET

Blain’s Farm & Fleet, founded in 1955 is committed to selling a unique mix of quality products and services at fair and honest prices. Blain’s is active in supporting such programs as, The Future Farmers of America, 4-H, The American Heart Association, and is dedicated to giving back to the community through the Bert and Claude Blain Memorial Scholarships.

KEY RESULTS

✓ Estimated 13,810kWh’s Annual Savings
✓ Doubled Number of Fixtures
✓ While Reducing Energy Costs
✓ Footcandles Increased by300%
✓ Customer and Employee Safety Improved
✓ Increased Brand and Outdoor Product Visibility
✓ $5,200 In Rebates
✓ 13,810 kWh Annual Energy Reduction

 

OVERVIEW

Blain’s Farm & Fleet was founded in 1955 by brothers Claude and Bert Blain. Bert’s daughter, Jane Blain Gilbertson is the current CEO and President after working with the organization for over 30 years herself. The company now has 38 stores throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Along with Blain Supply Inc. Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, the company employs over 4,000 people. The family-owned business was built and ran on strong Midwestern values, as it still does today.

THE CHALLENGE

When Blain’s started their expansion into the new Michigan locations, they took advantage of pre-existing commercial spaces that had been vacated. Deciding to keep the existing light poles and electrical systems in place, and choosing to retrofit using new efficient LED area lights, a solution was needed that provided Blain’s with better light coverage than before, while still offering a reduction in energy usage.

THE SOLUTION

Manufacturer’s representative West Michigan Lighting presented Blain’s with the EverLast Lighting Encounter Series as a turnkey replacement to the outdated 400w metal halide lights the previous tenants had installed. The EverLast Encounter Series has multiple distribution types available and an impressive lumen to watt ratio, which provided Blain’s with an area light that not only ensured better coverage than had existed originally but also reduced energy usage while tripling the foot candle readings across the property. Blain’s decision to use EverLast’s (UARM) universal mounting bracket made single person installation of the lights possible, which cut installation costs and times down to a fraction of initial estimates, making opening the new store under a tight deadline a reality.

THE RESULTS

The Encounter Series area lights provided the Blain’s properties with an exceptional increase in light coverage and intensity. The massive reduction in energy consumption per unit allowed Blain’s to double their fixture count, while still reducing energy consumption by nearly 50%. And by ensuring that their parking areas were well lit, safety, security, and brand visibility were improved while reducing their maintenance costs thanks to the 10+ year life expectancy of the Encounter Series area lights.

CLIENT’S TESTIMONIALS

Instead of one installer holding the light up while the other attaches it, the EverLast UARM let one guy do the whole job. Now instead of two guys and one light on the lift, it’s two guys and two lights on the lift!

Roger M. | Installation Supervisor

Interested In Learning More?

EverLast Lighting is an industry-leading LED manufacturer with countless solutions for industries across the country. If you'd like to talk to one of our lighting professionals, our team in Michigan will be happy to assist.