We started selling tablecloths, folding tables, and folding chairs online in 1998-99. Business boomed during the early 2000s. We grew quickly and
went through a number of expansions. Following is a brief synopsis of what we've accomplished over the last 7 years.
2006 - we trademarked the name Bright Settings™ and moved all of our products onto www.brightsettings.com, the site you are visiting now.
2007 - Bright Settings was listed in Internet Retailer's Top 500 Largest Retail Websites in America. We were also listed in Inc Magazine
as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United Staes of America
2008 - we opened our tablecloth and table linen rental operation and added that service to our website.
2009 - we were listed in Inc Magazine again, and then the Great Recession hit.
The economy and the Internet experienced multiple changes after 2009. Capital expenditures on furniture diminished, and for some folks,
tablecloths became an unaffordable luxury. However, we used the slow down to expand into social media and build enhancements to our website.
In fact, as a small business with under 20 employees, we are quite proud of everything we have accomplished over the past few years:
- We started emailing a promotional newsletter several times per month
- We added social Q&A which allows shoppers to ask questions about products that get answered by customers who have already purchased them
- Customers can now rate and review products on our website
- We started a blog and now post to it several times per week
- We established an active presence on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
- We regularly publish videos on our YouTube channel including some very popular napkin folding videos with thousands of views
- Mobile users can text their questions to us via our new texting service
- Customers can chat directly with our sales team using the new Live Help feature on our website
- We made our website tablet-friendly
- We created a mobile site so smartphone users have access to order status and useful web apps at their fingertips
We will continue to adapt in 2013. We will fine tune our social media activity as our visitors begin to voice their preferences for
how we can best assist them. If there's something you'd like to see us do, let us know. We're always looking for new ways to help our
customers. But there's one thing that will remain constant with us - our commitment to our mission to create a shopping experience that
is so remarkable that you visit us again and again while telling your friends how wonderful we are.
Connie Williams sales manager
I'm Connie Williams, Sales Manager for Bright Settings™. I have been part of the Bright Settings™
staff for over 10 years. I began my role in the company as a sales associate. Through good ole
fashioned hard work and dedication, I have worked my way to the Sales Manager position. By coming
into my position this way, it has given me the opportunity to grow with the company. It also helps
me to better train our sales team to provide the level of service we wish our customers to receive.
I am here to ensure your satisfaction of service with our company, on every level. If you have any
questions or concerns, I will gladly take the time to assist you. Please don't hesitate to email
or call. My direct extension is 108.
Apart from work, I also enjoy spending time with my family. I've recently begun to develop a new
passion for personal fitness and my P90X gets my blood pumping before work every morning.
Eileen Douglas sales consultant
Hi, I'm Eileen, I have been with Bright Settings™ for about 8 years. Before my time at Bright I
mostly worked in sales for manufacturing companies. Working at Bright Settings™ is probably the
most exciting and fast-paced position I have ever had. Our customers often challenge us with what
may seem like an impossible request and with our experience and know how we are able to offer a
sensible solution. Being a sales associate here it is not just answering the phone and taking an
order we try to make sure that our customers are actually getting what they need and offering our
help any way we can to ensure customer satisfaction.
Away from the office I like to spend my time with my husband and daughter doing as much in the
outdoors as possible whether it is sled riding in the winter or bicycling or kayaking in the summer.
Jinnie Templin marketing
I'm Jinnie, and I finished up my undergraduate degree in Communication Arts from Allegheny College in May 2011. I manage our
social media accounts, develop new marketing strategies, and am constantly on the prowl for ways to improve your experience
with Bright Settings. I also worked at Bright in high school, sending out catalogues and sample orders, so I have quite a
history with the company. When I'm not working at Bright, I like to browse the internet for interesting news and relax with
my friends. I work remotely from Washington DC, so I do a fair amount of exploring in the city as well. I've never really
been a morning person, but I have to admit that a grande caramel silk from the local coffee shop is a nice motivation when
I have to be awake. :)
Marc Templin president/ceo
Hi, I'm the owner of Bright Settings™. I hope you like our new website. All of our products and
services are here now instead of four different websites. We added ratings, reviews, and interactive
Q&A where we're inviting you to submit your questions and share your thoughts about our products so
others may benefit. We also made it easy for you to share our content with your friends and link to
us via your favorite social bookmarking site.
When I'm not busy at Bright I enjoy entertaining with my lovely wife Kim at our home in the country.
I'm also into woodworking in the shop, attending to my orchards and riding ATVs on my property. I
unwind occasionally by hunting for trout on the local streams.
Lynda Franke accounting
Each time I fill out a form that asks me what my occupation is I'm tempted to write "What day are
we talking about?" Technically, I work in the accounting department and yes, I'm capable of the tasks
normally associated with this position. But then there are days when the duties I perform are more
related to a human resource position. There've also been times when special projects have come along
and I've been asked to assist with them. I think that being a wife and mother of 2 young children,
which requires a great deal of multitasking, makes me a perfect fit for such a job. Or maybe it's
the job that makes me such a good wife and mom? Whichever it is, I think that the next time I fill
out one of those forms asking me what my occupation is I'll simply write "Girl Friday".
Chuck May graphic design/it
Chuck has Graphic Communications degree from Edinboro University and has worked professionally
for 18 years. He is in his 11th year at Bright Settings™.
Chuck is a certifiable tech junkie that dismisses anything that doesn't have an Apple logo on
it. He checks his email every 46 seconds and his personal best for "staying off the grid" is
5 minutes and 24 seconds. He also wouldn't venture anywhere that doesn't have at least 3 bars
of cell service and/or wifi.
Chuck is a fan of music, movies, cooking, tea and football. He also enjoys shooting wildlife
with his camera. When he isn't working on home improvement projects he can be found hiking in
the woods with his Golden Retriever and best bud Bailey.
Bailey intern
WOOF! I'm Bailey the Golden Retriever and I have been a full time intern here at Bright Settings™
for 10 years now. I have been coming to work every day with my adopted human Chuck in the graphics
department. Here at Bright Settings™ I make sure everybody has a smile on their face and that
not a single crumb of food goes to waste! My favorite day of the week is Monday and my favorite time
of day is... LUNCH TIME! I also like to be a meeting crasher, sneaking an ear scratching and a back
rub where I can.
A few of my favorite things are people, picnics and the great outdoors. I also enjoy barking at the
geese and ducks down at the local lake. I really love car rides, especially to the dog park to see
my friends or to some of my favorite restaurants for take out. Car rides to the vet... not so much.
Other interests include long walks on the beach, frisbees, pizza, snow, swimming, tennis balls and
intercepting kitty treats. My favorite color is gold of course. Oh, and contrary to what the humans
here tell you... I don't beg!
When I'm not in the office hard at work I can be found at home relaxing in my recliner. With one eye
open of course, I just know that Cosmo and Piper the house cats are plotting against me.
Nathan Schenck programmer/it
I earned my degree from Penn State Behrend in Management Information Systems, focusing on
programming courses. After graduation, I was doing some volunteer website work while job
hunting. I found temporary work with Bright and then offered a chance to prove myself. I
have now been writing the code for Bright websites for 11 years. I'm also responsible for
upkeep of the software that handles your orders as well as our servers and internal
network. It's been quite interesting to see how the business has evolved through the years.
