TCP is launching a residential LED lamp series delivering a fully dimmable, attractive solution to outdated incandescent lighting. These new LED lamps are unique in both technology and design and include decorative lamps and reflectors with a rated life of 20,000 hours. In addition to its attractive styling, these lamps are energy efficient, saving at least 80% of the energy used by incandescent.

TCP, the leader in compact fluorescent lighting products, is the proud recipient of the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) Gold and Silver Awards for their new promotional packaging. The promotional packaging is part of a larger branding initiative across all of TCP’s energy efficient product lines.

Extensive consumer research and testing was conducted as part of the project. “Having the most innovative technology and the highest quality is not enough. We focused on listening to the customer and designed packaging to fit their needs.” said Jim Connolly, Sr. Vice President – Retail Division at TCP. “This includes everything from how they choose the lamp to how they store it.”

“The idea was to make energy efficient lighting fun,” says Connolly. “The central element throughout both core and promotional items is the presentation of product features in the first person. Add in packaging configurations that are not traditionally used in lighting, and colorful, unexpected graphics and you have TCP’s new packaging.”

The NRHA Gold Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral. The callout “I fit everywhere” brings attention to the lamp’s exceptionally small size and universal fit and the unusual shape of the clamshell brings some fun to a traditionally conservative category.

The NRHA Silver Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral in a 4 pack clear cube. The clear cube allows customers to view the lamps before purchase to confirm they have the correct lamp size, base type and that there is no damage before purchase. The cube is easily re-sealable and can be conveniently stored or stacked unlike traditional clamshell products.

TCP’s new packaging was launched at this year’s Hardware Show in Las Vegas, NV and will be available at retail summer 2010. Promotional packaging is available now in select stores.

TCP founder, Ellis Yan, was recently named to Forbes Magazine’s List of 25 Notable Chinese-Americans. 

This is the first time Forbes has highlighted top Chinese-Americans in it’s publication.  This special Asian issue is available on newsstands now.

Last Friday we told you about Ed Hammer, inventor of the CFL, being featured in Consumer Reports.  In one of the questions, Mr. Hammer brought up that until recently, bending of the familiar “spring” lamp shape was done by hand. 

TCP is proud to be the first in the industry to develop a machine that automates the bending of CFLs into their familiar spring shape.   

We can manufacture as many as 1.5 million CFLs every day – a majority of the CFLs on the U.S. market. Each automated machine will allow TCP to produce an additional 5,500 CFLs every day, nearly five times as many as produced by the company’s manual bending process.  Currently, the automated machines make up 15 percent of total CFL production. 

This is a major milestone for the lighting industry with automation enhancing the quality of CFLs and making it easier and faster to fill the rising global demand for energy efficient lighting. 

At TCP Headquarters yesterday, we successfully kicked off a campaign in support of the Northern Ohio USO.  Entitled, “A Hero’s Light: One light until they all come home,” TCP hosted more than 400 people outside it’s corporate headquarters where a parade complete with veterans, marching bands and city officials started the celebration. 

Local businesses bought “Hero’s Light” shippers, each containing 132 CFLs, to share with employees or to use in their own facilities to increase energy efficiency. TCP has already sold 54 shippers – with the company well on its way to reaching its goal of 250 shippers, totaling a donation of $25,000 to the Northern Ohio USO. To commemorate the successful campaign launch, the USO gave TCP its “wings” and named it a corporate angel. 

“This program, ‘A Hero’s Light’, is the start of a new partnership for us with the USO, with the goal that we hope we share with every American – to support the brave men and women who dedicate their lives for our freedom,” said TCP CEO, Ellis Yan.

For more information about donating money or care package items or to purchase a CFL shipper to support the USO, click here or call (330) 995-1630.