Pulse of Lighting

2019 has been an interesting, and challenging, year for the lighting industry. And the fourth quarter hasn’t disappointed.

The first half of the year was dominated with talk, and eventual implementation, of tariffs. While this may have helped mitigate the continued pricing pressures driven by companies referred as ChinaLED, the plethora of lighting manufacturers and pricing pressures continues. Not to mention the improbable acquisition of Cree Lighting by IDEAL Industries.

Acquisitions have increased in Q4 with Acuity making a couple of acquisitions, Leviton expanding its lighting portfolio, private equity firms acquiring some smaller architectural lighting companies and then Signify acquiring Cooper Lighting Solutions.

Couple these with continued product introductions, technology innovations (LiFi and more) and increased adoption of lighting controls. It appears that Signify and Acuity, at least based upon the volume of new product press releases and mentions in leading lighting publications such as LEDs Magazine, are the leaders in product innovation from a technology viewpoint with many others being product introduction “machines” based upon form and function.  But the question with the pace of product innovation is, “Is the market desiring these new features? Are sales organizations, and the channel, trained regarding the product features, benefits and how to sell the new products?  Are the new products being adopted and monetized quickly enough to generate an ROI for all parties?

Not to mention the battle of lighting agents in Chicago.

So, lots going on while the lighting industry continues to grow albeit feedback from manufacturers is mixed with some expressing concern due to the new construction market and others seeing significant growth potentials.

Q4 2019 / 2020 Pulse of Lighting Survey

With this as a backdrop our 2019 Q4 Pulse of Lighting Survey, conducted on behalf of William Blair, is now open.  We need your input on how Q4 has been for you AND your forecast for 2020.  The survey asks key questions for distributors, manufacturers and reps / lighting agents so that we can triangulate the input and get a good sense of the market.

Later this month we’ll share the complete results with survey respondents.

To take the survey, click here.  All input is anonymous.

2020

With only 21 days remaining in the year and many thinking about 2020, what is your lighting forecast?

• As you look towards 2020, what do you feel will drive your 2020 lighting growth?
• What will be the top headlines in 2020? Will they relate to tariffs? Acquisitions (who will be sold)? Lighting controls? New technologies? A slow market?