Ep 17. Hangout Lighting

In season 5 episode 17 of The Profit, entrepreneur and investor Marcus Lemonis travels to Savannah, Georgia to meet with Hangout Lighting, a company that designs and manufactures custom lighting fixtures for commercial and residential spaces.

Upon arriving, Lemonis is immediately impressed by the company's founder, Matt Moore. Moore is a passionate and dedicated entrepreneur who has poured his heart and soul into Hangout Lighting. He's built a team of skilled craftsmen and designers who create beautiful, unique lighting fixtures from scratch.

However, despite Moore's talent and passion, the company is struggling to stay afloat. They've taken on too much debt, and their sales have been stagnant for the past few years. Moore is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, and he's not sure how to turn things around.

Lemonis spends some time touring Hangout Lighting's production facility and meeting with the employees. He's impressed by their talent and dedication, but he can see that there are some areas where the company could improve. For example, their marketing strategy is weak, and they're not doing enough to promote their products to potential customers.

Lemonis decides to invest $700,000 in Hangout Lighting, which he believes will give the company the financial cushion it needs to get back on track. He also wants to help Moore improve his business skills and create a stronger brand identity for the company.

One of the first things Lemonis does is bring in a branding expert to work with Moore and his team. They come up with a new logo and tagline for Hangout Lighting, as well as a marketing strategy that will help the company reach a wider audience.

Lemonis also helps Moore restructure the company's debt and cut expenses. He encourages Moore to focus on creating a few key product lines that are popular with customers, rather than trying to offer too many different options. This will help the company streamline its production process and reduce costs.

Throughout the episode, Moore is grateful for Lemonis' help, but he's also resistant to some of the changes that Lemonis wants to implement. He's worried that Lemonis will take over the company and make it something that he no longer recognizes.

However, Lemonis is patient and persistent, and he continues to work with Moore to bring Hangout Lighting back to life. By the end of the episode, the company is on a stronger footing, with a clear brand identity, a focused product line, and a strategy for growth.

Overall, season 5 episode 17 of The Profit is a compelling look at the challenges faced by small business owners, and the impact that a skilled investor can have on their success. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing Lemonis' hands-on approach to business, as well as his commitment to helping entrepreneurs like Moore achieve their dreams.