XY Lighting runs a trade program built for interior designers: tiered pricing from 20% to 45% off retail, sample units at 50% off that are credited back against your first project order, spec sheets with CAD blocks and IES photometric files on every product page, and dimensioned custom drawings within five working days. Here is exactly how each piece works.
What does the trade program give a design studio that retail pricing does not?
Three things a retail checkout cannot produce: pricing you can put in a client presentation, paperwork that survives a specification review, and one named contact who answers within one business day. Trade pricing is confidential under our trade program terms — it can be used in client proposals but not published or resold — and tiers are applied automatically once your rolling 12-month order total crosses each threshold, with no re-negotiation step.
| Tier | Rolling 12-month spend | Discount off retail | Payment terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 · Member | On approval | 20% | Prepayment |
| Tier 2 · Studio | $15,000+ | 30% | 50% deposit |
| Tier 3 · Partner | $50,000+ | 38% | Net-30 |
| Tier 4 · Distributor | $150,000+ | 45% | Net-30 + territory pricing |
Two structural details matter when you model project margins: the discount is applied to your account once the 12-month total crosses the threshold, so a single $18,000 project moves you to Tier 2 for the rest of the year; and quotations are valid for 30 days, so a pricing page printed for a client deck should carry the quotation date, not just the number.
How do samples work when you are presenting finishes to a client?
Samples are priced for exactly this workflow: one sample unit per model at 50% off retail, credited in full against the first project order that contains that model. You are not buying throwaway swatches — you are borrowing a finished fixture for the presentation, and the cost disappears once the project lands.
| Step | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Shortlist models | Pick models from the catalogue; confirm socket type and finish against your material board | Same day |
| 2 · Order samples | One unit per model at 50% off retail through your trade account | Standard shipping window |
| 3 · Client presentation | Present the physical fixture with the render and spec sheet from the product page | Your schedule |
| 4 · Credit applied | Sample cost is credited in full against the first project order containing that model | At PO |
| 5 · Custom finish check | For larger projects we build a sample unit and photograph it against your finish references before production | Within the custom production window |
Note the minimums: stocked items carry a minimum order of 1 piece, so a sample-to-order conversion on a stocked model has no quantity barrier. Made-to-order configurations carry a 5-piece minimum.
Which fixture documents can you drop straight into a drawing set?
Spec sheets, CAD blocks, IES photometric files and high-resolution renders are downloadable on every product page — the four document types a lighting plan typically needs at design development and construction document stages.
| Document | What it contains | Where it goes in your workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Spec sheet | Dimensions, socket type, wattage, finish options, canopy size per SKU | Fixture schedule and cut sheets in the FF&E package |
| CAD blocks | Plan and elevation symbols sized to the real fixture footprint | Reflected ceiling plan, so the drawn symbol matches what ships |
| IES photometric file | Distribution data for lighting calculations | Photometric study when the client or lighting consultant asks for footcandle levels |
| High-res render | True-finish imagery for presentations and mood boards | Client deck and material board, before samples arrive |
Browse the chandelier collection to pull documents for specific models, and see the alabaster, crystal and glass comparison if the specification conversation turns to shade material.
Can you change the size, finish or shade material of a catalogue fixture?
Yes — because fixtures are manufactured in-house, size, finish, canopy and drop changes are engineering work rather than a negotiation. Send the brief, and dimensioned drawings, a render and a firm unit price come back, usually within five working days. Specification changes are only possible before production begins, so lock selections before the production slot is reserved.
| What can change | Range / options | What to send with the brief |
|---|---|---|
| Width and height scaling | From 12-inch accents to 96-inch spans | Ceiling height and the room dimensions |
| Drop length and suspension | Custom drop lengths, canopy shapes and ceiling-plate configurations | Finished ceiling height and mounting condition |
| Metal finish | Finish matching to your door hardware, taps or architectural metalwork | A physical reference or the finish code you are matching |
| Shade material | Swaps between alabaster, calcite, crystal, glass and fabric | The target material from your material board |
| Voltage and certification | Configuration for the destination market — UL/ETL for 110–120V, CE for 220–240V per our trade terms | Destination country and jurisdiction |
| Packing | Private-label packing and custom instruction booklets | Brand assets if the shipment is client-branded |
Production for custom and made-to-order work typically runs 30–45 days, and staged delivery is available on multi-phase projects. Full process detail lives on the customization page.
How does the timeline run from selection to installation?
The dates below are fixed by policy, so you can build a design schedule around them; everything else — exact production and transit days — is quoted per project because it depends on the fixture, finish and destination.
| Milestone | Fixed window | What it means for your schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Account verification | Within one business day of applying | Apply before the pricing round, not during it |
| Application to first PO | About a week, end to end | New studios can still bid a fast-turnaround project |
| Custom drawings and quote | Usually within 5 working days of the brief | Put the drawing date in the design timeline, not “TBD” |
| Quotation validity | 30 days unless stated otherwise | Re-quote rather than assume pricing holds past 30 days |
| Specification changes | Only before production begins | Lock the fixture schedule before the production slot is reserved |
| Payment trigger | 50% deposit begins production; balance before dispatch | Deposit timing is production timing on the install schedule |
| Custom production | 30–45 days typical | Add transit time before the install date |
Custom and made-to-order production slots cannot be cancelled once production has begun — treat the deposit date as the point of no return on the schedule.
How long does trade account approval take?
Verification is completed within one business day of submitting the application, and the full path from application to first purchase order runs about a week. A business licence or portfolio link in the application speeds up the review. Applying does not commit you to an order.
Do sample costs count toward the project order?
Yes. Sample units are one per model at 50% off retail, and the full sample cost is credited against the first project order that contains that model. The credit applies per model, so a sample for a fixture you do not specify remains a discounted sample rather than a credit.
What is the minimum order for a custom or made-to-order fixture?
Stocked items have a 1-piece minimum. Made-to-order configurations carry a 5-piece minimum. Custom and made-to-order projects are quoted individually and are not subject to a minimum order value — pricing comes from the drawing and quote that the custom desk returns within five working days.
Where should a designer start with a double-height foyer or stairwell?
Start with dimensions, not with models: our chandelier size chart gives the table-width and ceiling-height rules that set the fixture scale before any finish decision, and the same dimensions drive the custom scaling range above.
If you are the contractor on the same project, the companion page Lighting for Contractors covers submittals, rough-in dimensions and the certification confirmation checklist; designers and contractors usually work from the two pages side by side.
To open an account, apply through the trade program; for a fixture that does not exist yet, send the brief to the customization desk and a drawing comes back within five working days.