Philips to Combine Lamp and Ballast

EdisonReport has been following rumors that Philips Lighting planned to change their distribution model. We contacted the company and their response is below:

Philips has made a strategic decision to combine its Lamp and Ballast organizations into one. The move will produce a single commercial organization that provides one face to the market and a common point of contact for our distributors selling both Philips lamps and Advance branded ballasts. This change will make it easier and more efficient for our distributors that carry both lines do business with us. The common point of contact is for all functions including customer service/issue resolution, warranty, shipping, marketing and sales. To that end, the Philips Lighting Account Manager is now responsible for servicing the electrical distributor's lamp and ballast needs. This decision is supported by a major investment in common systems and back-end infrastructure.

We are confident that this approach will deliver greater value to the electrical distributor and to the marketplace in 2010 and beyond.

Philips Lighting recognizes and values the services provided by NEMRA reps and will continue to use them to serve those distributors that are Advance ballast customers.

Philips to Combine Lamp and Ballast Organizations