To guarantee our clients get the design we create specifically for each project, we have developed strategic partnerships with distributors, specialty lighting vendors, and system integrators. These partnerships enable us to eliminate the need for costly value engineering processes, manage the project’s lighting budget from concept to opening day, eliminate the usual negotiations and ensure a smooth installation and integration process.
Our clients aren’t required to use our strategic partners, but by purchasing a package through them, we can guarantee the specified products will be provided at a fair and competitive price. In fact, some of our clients, use our cost quotations to negotiate with their current procurement teams.
Strategic Alliance Services
- Real cost quotations – not budget estimates at every stage of design
- Procurement services
- System integration
- Zero-cost upgrades for existing lighting, with insurance, warranty and tax rebate assistance
- Electrical contracting and installation (Los Angeles area only)
Strategic Alliance Philosophy
Our strategic alliances are not bound by exclusive manufacturer relationships and therefore work on the designer and owner’s behalf to get the best pricing possible for the products specified by the design team.
We believe that there is value in working with our strategic partners (Bandit Lites, Mid-West Wholesale Lighting, Ptarmigan Integration, Tarrant Lighting, and GFI Electrical) on the owner’s behalf, to identify cost-saving alternatives whenever possible and frequently aid in identifying better procurement strategies or fixture alternatives with the various lighting manufacturers. Our alliance partners have a completely open book policy. Visual Terrain does not receive hidden, back-door, or kickback payments from any of our partners.
Our alliance partners work on a set mark-up and sell directly to our clients. This approach will reduce or eliminate the need for Value Engineering or product substitutions on specified products and preserve the design our clients have paid Visual Terrain to create. Additionally, our clients will avoid costly third party mark-ups.
Our clients will save time and money internally as well due to the various lighting teams working together from the very beginning to develop lighting strategies from design through fabrication and procurement. Our companies have a proven track record of working with each other to deliver projects on-time and on budget.
The key to this approach is that the designed budget will be maintained throughout the entire design and procurement process ensuring there are no financial surprises when procurement begins.
The partners listed below provide services in different geographical areas, and may not be available in all countries.
System Integration / Distributor Alliance
Bandit Lites was founded in 1968 by Michael Strickland. Over the 55+ years since, Bandit has grown into the preeminent touring lighting company for live performance. Bandit’s permanent installation side has worked with Visual Terrain for over 14 years, providing procurement and integration services on multiple projects. In our unique partnership with Bandit, sometimes Visual Terrain is the client, sometimes Bandit is the client, and sometimes we work side-by-side on a project. The advantages of working with Visual Terrain and Bandit Lites are:
- Our companies are integrated
- The process is integrated
- The system is integrated
- We act as a single liaison who supports your project from design through opening day
- We work together to do the heavy lifting
Each company has deep roots in Architectural and Entertainment lighting. Our teamwork is based on 80 years of combined experience and 12+ years of working together. We are manufacturer agnostic, and not beholden to anyone’s “line.” We deliver the lighting you envisioned and then some!
Distributor Alliance
Founded in 1963, Mid-West Wholesale Lighting (MWL) has become one of the largest single location Wholesale Lighting Distributors in the United States. Located in Hollywood, CA, and operating under the premise that if you don’t have it you can’t sell it, its warehouse is brimming with over a million dollars in lighting inventory, including, lamps, fixtures, and controls.
Mid-West has active customers in all 50 states and Canada. Its objectives are to provide their customers with knowledge, service, and competitive pricing. Its sales force and customer service advocates have over 400 cumulative years of experience in the lighting industry.
Procurement Services: If the Owner chooses to use Mid-West Wholesale Lighting for lighting procurement efforts, MWL will request quotes for all fixtures and equipment within our scope of work and any products specified by the design team, place orders, manage the entire procurement process and arrange for the shipping and receiving of the equipment to the site. Additionally, MWL will work with the project’s construction team to verify mounting conditions and resolve any issues as they arise.
NOTE: These services are paid directly to our distributor partner Mid-West Wholesale Lighting Corporation.
Electrical Contractor / General Contractor Alliance
Headquartered in the Santa Clarita Valley, GFI Electrical works with Visual Terrain in the greater Los Angeles area to provide procurement and installation services. With over 20 years of experience, GFI can provide residential and commercial electrical services, as well as general contracting. Visual Terrain and GFI have worked together on a number of projects for the City of Santa Clarita, as well as commercial and residential projects.
Our Alliance Partners
For more information, visit our alliance partners’ websites by clicking below: