David from Just Bulbs, our New Yorker of the Month for January-February 2010

Ask a New Yorker: What are you up to? You’re multi-tasking, it seems.

David: Oh, it’s the Holidays, inventory and everything else at once. We’re keeping busy.

Ask a New Yorker: What did you want to be when you grew up, before you started Just Bulbs?

David: I wanted to be a mailman.

Ask a New Yorker: Where did you grow up?

David: Queens, Fresh Meadows. We had little lawns and sidewalks between each house.

Ask a New Yorker: Where did you go to school?

David: I went to lots of schools. Under grad I went to Hobart in the Finger Lakes of New York. I have a couple of graduate degrees as well. I have an MBA and law degree. My law degree is in taxation. My MBA is in logistics and accounting. I went to Columbia for graduate school.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s the motto at Columbia?

David: I have no idea. My daughter goes to Oberlin. The motto there is Fearless. I always thought that was so strange. What does that mean? I don’t know.

Ask a New Yorker: So what do you do?

David: I sell light bulbs. Just Bulbs is the only place around that sells only light bulbs. We have every odd thing you could find, we have every odd application that is necessary. And usually when a person does not know what they want we figure out what their application is and what they actually need. So it gets to be creative.

Ask a New Yorker: Who came up with the name Just Bulbs?

David: It was my grandmother that came up with it in about 1980. The logo and name are trademarked.

Ask a New Yorker: You must have an interesting cross section of customers.

David: We have walk ins. They tend to be high end consumers as well as decorators and architects. The majority of the business is on the phone or email. We also have done Broadway plays. Most recently we did the big sign outside of the show Hair. We also do a lot of hotels and that sort of thing because they want the right atmosphere in the rooms.

Ask a New Yorker: How many lamps do you have in your house?

David: I have no idea, not tons. I like it dark. Dark is romantic.

Ask a New Yorker: Do you ever get S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder)?

David: (laughs) We have sad lights. I don’t use them. If I did I probably would get giddy.

Ask a New Yorker: Explain what S.A.D is about?

David: S.A.D. is seasonal affected disorder. People in the winter time don’t get enough sun light, some people don’t and so that affects their mood. It’s solved by light therapy. Light therapy requires a certain color temperature of certain intensity for a certain period of time which when guided hits your optic nerve and boosts your spirits.

Ask a New Yorker: Wow.

David: We have light bulbs for that purpose although the true suffers need special equipment. But if you want to boost just the happiness in your house you would change all the light bulbs. It’s like helping staying awake with a cup of coffee instead of a good night sleep. It makes the mood better over all although it really does not solve the problem.

Ask a New Yorker: A good couch would do that.

David: That’s right, a good couch.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s the ‘in’ color this year?

David: Every year one color dominates at Christmas. This year it was absolutely blue. We even sold blue for Halloween this year.

Ask a New Yorker: Color fads. I wonder how they come about.

David: We use to work with Martha Stewart. She picked. It was her taste. Whatever she picked for her house which made it into her magazines and television show everyone wanted it. She doesn’t deal with us anymore. I’m not sure where she gets her selections now. But I think she still dominates the tastes.

Ask a New Yorker: What’s the oddest request you’ve gotten for light usage?

David: We get a whole lot of bulbs wanted for customs. People will want to wear it for different holidays and occasions. It’s always a challenge to get them something where they don’t electrocute themselves.

Ask a New Yorker: What are your hobbies?

David: I’m not sure what that is anymore! I’m here all the time. I do love skiing. I do love cold weather. Although as I’ve gotten older cold bothers me more, so I’m not quite sure if I like it anymore.

Ask a New Yorker: What are you reading?

David: Most recently I read a book called The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich about an American Indian woman author who just recently won an award. The book is based around Dartmouth College which was founded to educate American Indians. She was the commencement speaker when my daughter graduated this past year.

Ask a New Yorker: Thanks David, and Happy New Year to you and best of luck with Just Bulbs!

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