Inside the Event Everyone’s Still Talking About

LightX 2025 aims to raise the bar (again) for what a regional lighting event can be

If you caught it, you know. If you missed it, well… you’re probably still hearing about it.

Last year’s LightX brought over 1,000 lighting people from across the Southern U.S. to the Gaylord Texan Resort for what felt less like a trade show and more like a lighting summit. The kind where cocktails and connections flow in equal measure — and where lighting decision makers and manufacturers don’t just trade cards, but collaborate on real opportunities.

Now, with LightX 2025 returning this July 28 & 29 in Orlando, one question is surfacing among lighting manufacturers: “Can we still get in?”

A Regional Show with a National Pulse

On paper, LightX is a private event hosted by Bell & McCoy and FRM, two of the industry's most prominent rep agencies that merged in 2023. But in practice, it's something bigger: a curated, immersive gathering of decision-makers, specifiers, distributors and manufacturers from across a wide swath of the country. It’s not confined to one geography. Neither are its attendees.

That’s become a key factor for manufacturers wondering whether LightX is worth the investment — especially those not partnered with FRM in Florida. But Florida, as it turns out, is just the venue.

FRM and Bell & McCoy’s combined agency footprint is substantial: a dozen states, over 20 markets, and $2 billion in annual sales. LightX reflects that scale. It’s less about where the booths are set up and more about who’s walking past them.

Relationships Happen Here

The word “relationship” gets overused in this industry. But at LightX, it means something very real.

“If we could only attend one trade show this year, it would be LightX — hands down,” said Nick Senofsky, CEO of LEDI.

Keith Gassman of renowned engineering firm, Salas O’Brien, called it an event he “looks forward to every year,” adding that “no other industry events compare.” Other specifiers echoed the sentiment. Granville McAnear, an award-winning Dallas-based lighting designer, appreciated the focused format: “The select number of manufacturers made it easy to spend quality time with each one of interest.”

The experience is engineered for interaction. Bell & McCoy and FRM cover travel for key specifiers, encourage them to bring a “plus one”, and design an agenda that balances CEUs, exhibits and informal social gatherings. The result? More conversations that matter, fewer distracted walk-bys.

Not Just a Booth, A Moment

Manufacturers showed up with ambition last year — and the exhibits reflected it.

Current staged a 2,500-square-foot throwback to the Roaring Twenties, complete with costumed staff. H.E. Williams created an immersive "factory floor" environment, while LSI Industries gamified its booth with football-themed product displays.

“Light X was a tremendous show for LSI Industries. We were able to connect, engage, and build lasting connections,” stated the company’s Senior VP of Sales, Pablo Leguina.

The lesson? The audience is paying attention. And they’re remembering what they see.

It’s Not Really About Florida

For some manufacturers, the idea of exhibiting in Florida sparks hesitation — especially if their rep partnerships lie elsewhere. But the value of LightX isn’t tied to its zip code.

Most attendees don’t come from Florida at all. They’re flying in from across the South: architects from Texas, lighting designers from Atlanta, engineers from Oklahoma, and specifiers from all corners of the Bell & McCoy and FRM footprint.

Above: A LightX panel discussion featured executives from Current, Lutron, Wiliams and LSI Industries

As Jason Sherrill of Current put it after last year’s show, the real opportunity is “getting closer to our customers, specifically the spec community, across the sprawling territory that FRM and Bell & McCoy provides.”

That’s not a Florida event. That’s a regional convergence.

Interested in exhibiting at LightX? Learn more at lightxshow.com/manufacturers or contact Marisela Rivas at mrivas@bellandmccoy.com

Business in the Daylight, Connections After Dark

If the day is about product and learning, the evenings are about people.

The 2025 agenda includes poolside gatherings, an appreciation dinner for manufacturers, and a private concert on night two. But these aren’t just parties — they’re soft infrastructure for real business development.

These moments — over bourbon, music, or a poolside drink — are the ones attendees remember. And they’re often where lighting projects begin.

Looking Ahead (Before It’s Too Late)

LightX has always been invitation-only. And while this isn’t a scarcity play, it is a reality: space is limited. Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are finite — and many are already spoken for.

For manufacturers who weren’t part of the last show, this year is more than a second chance. It’s a chance to catch up.

Because LightX isn’t just growing. It’s becoming the kind of industry moment where presence alone sends a message: We’re here. We’re committed. And we’re serious about the Southern U.S. market.

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