August 16, 2024
Longtime Acuity Agent Merges with Former Current Rep in SC
New rebranded agency, CLS, promises enhanced services and an expanded portfolio of over 200 brands
In a significant shift for South Carolina's commercial and industrial lighting market, two major agencies are joining forces to become an even stronger major force in the market.
James G. Murphy Company, Acuity Brands' longtime representative in South Carolina, is merging with Carolina Architectural Lighting & Design (CAL+D) to form Creative Lighting Solutions (CLS). The merger, set to take effect Sept. 3, 2024, combines nearly five decades of Murphy's experience with CAL+D's recently freed resources.
Combined Resources and Market Impact
Murphy has represented Acuity Brands in South Carolina since 1975, maintaining a 49-year partnership. The agency, with 14 employees, has built a portfolio of 88 lighting lines, including prominent brands such as Lumenwerx, Selux, and Vode.
CAL+D, which brings 26 employees and 132 brand partnerships to the merger, became available for this partnership following a recent shake-up in the market. On March 1, the agency parted ways with Current Lighting, its longtime client, when Current transitioned to FRM Lighting & Controls for representation in South Carolina.
The newly formed CLS will represent a combined line card featuring Acuity Brands alongside CAL+D's existing partnerships, which include certain Leviton lighting and controls brands, Green Creative, ALW, and Fluxwerx.
Messaging to Market and Emerging Details
Acuity Brands expressed enthusiasm for the merger in a memo to customers, stating, "The combined talent of both companies will be coming together to offer enhanced capabilities and resources to deliver an even higher level of service for specifiers, distributors, and contractors."
During the transition, Acuity Brands assured distributors of uninterrupted access to the Acuity Distributor Center for order processing and inventory management.
The merger represents a significant consolidation in South Carolina's lighting market, bringing together 40 employees and over 200 lighting lines under one roof. This move is expected to reshape the competitive landscape in the region's lighting sector.
More details about the merger, including a new brand reveal and website, are expected in the coming weeks.
