January 15, 2024
Shift in Southwestern Florida's Lighting Landscape
Cooper Lighting appoints new rep, West Coast Lighting closes
The lighting industry has witnessed a trend of territorial consolidation, with smaller regions often merging into larger adjacent territories. This phenomenon, previously seen in Toledo, Akron, Tulsa, Reno and Roanoke, is now unfolding in Southwestern Florida.
West Coast Lighting, a long-standing agent of Cooper Lighting Solutions based in Bonita Springs, Florida, has announced its separation from Cooper Lighting and will be ceasing operations as of March 1, 2024.
West Coast Lighting, once a significant player in the Fort Myers and Naples, Florida lighting markets, last week informed its business partners of its impending permanent closure in a memo. “Since we will no longer be the agent of record for Cooper Lighting Solutions, we have decided to cease operations for all lighting manufacturers. We will be entering new sales orders through February 29, 2024.” The agency went on to express gratitude to its business partners over the years.
The latest accessible line card we have from West Coast Lighting, dates back to June 2023, lists several well known lighting brands including CSL Lighting, ALW, NLS Lighting, Axis Lighting, Coronet and Omnilight, among others. In July 2023, the agency's website displayed an error message, and the domain wcltg.com has since been redirected to the website of Tampa Bay Lighting, Cooper's agent just north of West Coast Lighting's territory.
Manufacturers’ strategic moves
Cooper Lighting has appointed Lighting Dynamics as its new representative in the Fort Myers and Naples areas, effective March 1. Lighting Dynamics, already Cooper's longtime representative in Miami, covering Southeastern Florida, will expand its coverage, crossing Alligator Alley to serve Southwestern Florida. This move was chosen over the potential expansion of Tampa Bay Lighting, Cooper's representative in Tampa, to cover this region.
The transition from West Coast Lighting to Lighting Dynamics underscores a larger trend in the region. Major lighting lines in Southwestern Florida are now represented by agencies based in adjacent major markets, such as Tampa or Miami, replacing the previously localized niche agencies.
This development reflects the industry's evolving landscape, where larger, more centralized agencies are increasingly dominating local markets.
Related: SW Florida lighting markets
