Lava Lite called me today!!! They plan on bringing back production to the USA :D

[MattMJB0188]

Caught me totally off guard but I spoke to a very nice guy, Asher.  He was calling in response to one my e-mails I had sent them a few moths ago about how much I dislike their current product line.  We spoke for about 20 minutes before he had to go.  I thoroughly voiced my opinions on why I haven't bought a lava product since 2005.  First thing I said was, you guys sold so many lamps in the 90s for a reason.  He agreed and said they have plans to re-launch the Midnight, Silver Streak, Elek-trick, and Safari Series in 2013.  He said he has been trying very hard to get production back to the USA since last year.  He said things are looking good and hopefully they will begin production here in the first half of 2013.

I told him that myself and MANY OTHERS would gladly pay the $50 price for a premium product again. I also mentioned that they need to bring back more color combinations and give their customers more choices.  He said he they are working on that again.  They have plans to bring back MOST of the 90s product line  I told him that its a shame I can't go into a store and buy a lava lamp that flows properly.  He said the current (2012) China lamps can ALMOST match the USA ones.  I said by no means will I ever buy one of those again and I buy from eBay.  He begged me not to buy from eBay, and I said then you know what you guys need to do.

Finally, he asked me to send him pictures of what I'd like to see.  I sent him pictures of all the 90s boxes I have (Midnight, Elek-trik, Lava Classics, Silver Streak, Midnight Centurues)  

He offered to make me a 90s Enchantress with yellow liquid and red lava to prove they can still replicate the 90s formula.  I said sure, but we'll see.  

He also said that he was fired back in 2002 when production began overseas and was just recently hired back.  Said he worked in the Chicago factory in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.  

I'm taking all of this with a huge grain of salt but it means progress.  Perhaps all of us unhappy lava collectors finally got through to them throughout the years.  I sure hope so.  I'll update this thread if I hear back from him.

PLEASE EVERYONE - E-MAIL THEM AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!!!  Perhaps next year we'll have a quality product again.  

[Autumn]

I have been talking through email. For now I wont mention any names. I dont want the trolls to come out of the woodwork, I know they are stirring. :p

MattMJB0188 said:

Autumn, this is great news.  Who did you speak to?  Did he have kind of a thick middle eastern accent?  Are above photos what they have in mind once they bring production home?  If so, I'm not really liking it.   As I told him, they need to re-launch 90s lamps with the same name.  I HATE the current packaging too.  Well a least they are on the right track.

[Loren]

You go, girl.

[LampHead]

 The lamps were not on tonight, hopefully tomorrow but its Friday so maybe not :(

 I wonder if the big lamp im seeing is the one you posted Autumn, it was on tonight but is behind a blind in one of the office windows. It glows and lights up the cracks in the blinds pretty good.

 Im on vacation next week but I will catch the lamps running soon.

[Keith]

Not sure I like it or not, but at least it shows interest in product development.  It will be interesting to see one in action.  They do look top-heavy though.   

Autumn said:

 


And finally, the best part. A new lamp. Not just a 32oz shrink-rayed, but a new design that stays true to the original lava shape. It seems to be sitting on some sort of plastic or glass ring instead of the typical metal cup todays lamps sit on. I dont know anything else about them though. D:

 

 

 


 

 

 
 

 

 


[Erin]

This is so fascinating to me. Not the new lamps per se, but that fact that a few of us are in contact with them and they are sharing. It's perplexing that they would share with us, but not the public. It's flattering, but odd. Fix the formula, bring jobs back here and I'm definitely buying one. 

I like the new design. I think it's really neat. Would love to see one in person.  

[Dr. WHAT?!]

I know what you mean Erin, I just emailed Stephine, who is my contact @ LL, and I was like I thought we were buds :( I thought she would've shared them with me too, but no. I did ask her if these new designs have a name yet so maybe I can get some info.

[Loren]

Autumn said:You know what intrigues me...I mean other than those awesome new designs? That gigantic silver cap in the background. It's not a grande cap...but it's huge. Hmmm...

 

 


[Dr. WHAT?!]

Those new designs are called Clearviews and will be available at Target :)

[Autumn]

You beat me to it. If I wasnt so lazy I would have posted that. :p

I have more information to release, plus I will hear more from Lava Lite today so I will post it all then. Most of it should be details about what I have already posted.

Dr. WHAT?! said:

Those new designs are called Clearviews and will be available at Target :)

[Tim Gill]

Well the new design was completely unexpected for me - I would have thought that they would have kept the same design. I don't know what to make of the new design but I do like the idea - more lava less base i think is the thing.

I do like the new zebra base design - that looks very cool and they have done a nice job of the packaging - keeping to what lava should be and also making it look cool etc.

I was doubtful about the move before but am not now it seams they really want to make change and are doing so.

The Lava Lite lounge looks cool - very much like Apple / Google have designed it :) hopefully in time that can be something people can visit.

From what Lava Lite have said about there products I think that it was probably un-fair to slate them about it as clearly they do otherwise why would they move. The company who has a lot of responsibility for the mess really is there Chinese factory / manufacture.

Now I am looking forward to buying a USA Lava Lite lamp - probably over a Mathmos one!!!

[Autumn]

Tim Gill said:

Well the new design was completely unexpected for me - I would have thought that they would have kept the same design. I don't know what to make of the new design but I do like the idea - more lava less base i think is the thing.

This is exactly what I was thinking, more lava less base. I like it.

Tim Gill said:

I was doubtful about the move before but am not now it seams they really want to make change and are doing so.

From what I have seen from my talks with lava lite, yes they are serious about this move.

Tim Gill said:

The Lava Lite lounge looks cool - very much like Apple / Google have designed it :) hopefully in time that can be something people can visit. 

My thoughts too. I love it.

Tim Gill said:

From what Lava Lite have said about there products I think that it was probably un-fair to slate them about it as clearly they do otherwise why would they move. The company who has a lot of responsibility for the mess really is there Chinese factory / manufacture.

Unfair to give them some tough love because of bad lamps? I don't think so. Personal attacks and unbased claims like "omg they hate lava lamps I hope they go out of business!" definitely unfair. In fact, claims like that have not been permitted here for a while now. I have talked to the CEO of Lava Lite, Dale Zalusky, and he is very passionate about lava lamps. All around he seems to be a nice guy. He shares our frustrations as well. He is not some corporate fat cat set out to drain the life out of Lava Lite like I have heard from some members. He even reads these posts. He specifically wanted to say why he chose now to talk to us. I will simply direct quote him so I can drive home the point that yes, he does read these posts.

"

I'll try to answer a few questions that I picked up off OG.   Why I'm communicating with you now? 

• Ashour speaking to Matt opened the door a few days before your email. Then you reaching out through our web site was just good timing. Normally I don't personally reply but just felt like answering your good questions with non BS answers. I felt a reply from me, the CEO/owner would have a little added credibility. 
• Much of what I'm sharing with you is not top secret. We do many interviews. Industry trade publications that cover Lava regularly have articles about us. The articles often are about new products and we send them photos/artwork. Our retail buyers read these publications. 
• There's been few local interview about our building where I discuss manufacturing here. Re shoring from China is a hot topic.   
• The last reason for emailing with you is that I like you and we share a love of Lava. That's it. No ulterior motives.  

"

Keep in mind that most of the time people contact Lava Lite they are responded to by someone who is very limited in what they are allowed to say. I would take anything the CEO says with a slightly smaller grain of salt.

Okay now for fun stuff.

Lava Lite will be holding a contest starting the 27th of this month. All I will say is get your sharpies ready.

The clearview model will come in 17" which is 32oz and 14.5 which is 12oz. I may be wrong about the 12oz model. The 32oz models come with red, purple, and yellow bases. The smaller ones come with silver bases. This lamp will be available within the next few months.

The pink zebra and neon lamps will be spencers exclusives. The black zebra will be sold exclusively at Target. All zebra lamps will have a wrap job, but it looked good as far as I can tell.

Here is another shot of the awesome lava lounge.

More clearview shots. Notice the flow and clarity?

This one is for you lamphead. I was told now you dont have to worry about getting arrested for peeking into windows. This is their conference room display.

And finally, Dale Zalusky has this colossal beast sitting in his office. I guess if you are the head of the company it would make less sense to not have one of these in your office right?

[Da9L]

Nice post Autumn..

This is all very great news.. Im hoping for the best.. Would be nice to be able to buy a lava lite lamp, that i can keep original.. !