After 40 years in business, Sun Dial Lighting continues to shine.
In challenging economic times, Sun Dial has recorded its best June and October in the store’s history.
The business was started by Ray and Dorothy Creed in 1975 and bought by current owner Rod Faust 20 years ago.
After owning an A&W franchise in Stettler, Alta. for 15 years, Faust moved to Vernon with his wife Cathy and three children to take over Sun Dial Lighting.
Not having any experience in lighting before purchasing the store, Faust’s transition was made easier thanks to long-term, hard-working employees like assistant manager Faye Kettles, who has been with the company for just shy of 35 years.
“It has been like a big family,” said Faust.
A key to its success has been Sun Dial’s strong relationships with local contractors.
“We do most of the lighting in the new homes built in Vernon and area,” said Faust.
Keeping up with trends in the industry has been an important part in keeping the business strong and relevant.
“Lighting is constantly changing,” said Faust. “We have gone through incandescent/halogen, to compact fluorescent, to LEDs.”
A popular trend in lighting recently is going back to the original technology of the Edison bulb to get a more industrial look.
“We have come full circle,” said Faust with a smile, adding that these bulbs may look cool but gobble up power, give off a lot of heat and not much light.
Sun Dial Lighting prides itself on delivering customer service coupled with extensive knowledge on everything lighting.
“That is what we are about,” said Faust.
“We are only lighting. We don’t do lawn mowers. Lighting is our expertise.”
Apart from carrying everything from lamps and pot lights to exterior lighting, Sun Dial is the place to go to replace that obscure burned out bulb.
“We carry just about every bulb imaginable,” said Faust.
Sun Dial doesn’t just sell new lighting, it also does repairs.
Faust’s parents lived through the Depression, so he grew up in a family that didn’t throw anything out. If something was broken, it was fixed.
“I have always been a handyman so I like that part of the business,” said Faust.
“I repair old lamps, chandeliers. If it’s lighting, I’ve probably fixed it.”
