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Message From The Editor
I just returned from attending Lightovation, the twice-yearly international lighting trade show held in Dallas, and am happy to report that the many manufacturers, reps, and retailers I spoke with were more than satisfied with 2021 from a business perspective. Construction and renovation numbers are robust and everyone has accepted the rising cost of goods and shipping delays as unavoidable — even consumers.
What we didn’t count on was another strain of COVID-19 ruining what was promising to be a “return to normal” as it relates to market attendance. As infection rates of Omicron continued to tick upward nationwide as Lightovation approached, numerous distributors and even a few manufacturers cancelled their plans to attend the show at the last minute. Reps were hit the hardest, with many having 50 to 70 percent of their scheduled appointments cancelling by the time the show opened.
Still, the mood was optimistic as industry friends greeted each other for the first time in almost two years. Unfortunately, the pandemic isn’t done with causing trade show disruptions. While the upcoming Las Vegas Market and the jointly held International Builders Show and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Florida are still taking place, the much-anticipated Light+Building show in March – normally held every other year and cancelled in 2020 – is now rescheduled for October.
As I photographed new products at Lightovation to share on social media, it was disappointing to realize how images fall short of conveying the finer details of how a product looks or its scale accurately when it’s not seen in person. I’m hopeful for a return to trade shows again by the summer months; there’s truly nothing like seeing our industry peers, and of course beautiful product, in person. |
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Breaking News
Omicron Concerns Force Light+Building to Change Date
 As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 jumps in its infection rate globally, Messe Frankfurt has decided to postpone the Light+Building fair until the fall. The new date for Light+Building 2022 will be October 2-6 at its usual Frankfurt am Main location in Frankfurt, Germany. Read More |
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Royal Power Solutions Joins Eaton’s Portfolio for $600 Million
 Power management company Eaton has completed its acquisition of Royal Power Solutions, a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-precision electrical connectivity components used in electric vehicle, energy management, industrial, and mobility markets. Read More |
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Vermont Weighs Banning Lamps Containing Mercury
 On the to-do list for the Department of Environmental Conservation in Vermont in 2022 is deciding whether or not to ban light bulbs that contain mercury (i.e. compact fluorescent, fluorescent, HID, non-LED UV). If it does, Vermont will become the first state in the country to do so. Read More |
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Exclusive Series
DISRUPTION 3.0: What’s Holding Networked Controls Back?
 The latest and final article in our Disruption Series looks at network lighting controls (NLC) through the lens of the marketplace influences mentioned in the first two articles and outlines some of the obstacles that stand in the way of mass adoption. Read More |
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DISRUPTION 2.0: How Ready Are You?
 Did you miss the December installment of Peter Brown’s Disruption series? The second article in this exclusive series dives deeper into the transition from legacy light sources to digitized, LED versions and the challenges it presents. Read More |
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Special Feature
Industry Outlook Is “Bright” for 2022
 The survey results are in! Electrical Trends’ popular Pulse of Lighting Survey compiled the insights of 200+ respondents in the electrical distribution channel – from electrical distributors and manufacturers’ reps to lighting agents and manufacturers – into a concise report on business in Q4. Read More |
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Tech Trends to Watch in 2022
 The Smart Home category – which includes smart light bulbs – is among the top three areas expected to see continued growth in 2022 and beyond, according to Steve Koenig, VP/Research for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which produces the widely recognized Consumer Electronics Show (CES) every January. Read More |
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New Wellness Series
Wellness By the Number$
 The term “health and wellness” is used a lot in consumer marketing — and for good reason. Not only is it a topic of great interest among nearly everyone living today, but it is also big business. First associated with the beauty and fitness category, the term has expanded to include interior design, the build environment, and real estate. Read More |
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In Case You Missed It
Griffon’s Plans to Acquire Hunter Fan Causes Upset
 News that Griffon Corp. – which segments its businesses under the categories Consumer & Professional Products (including AMES® and ClosetMaid®), Home & Building Products (which includes Clopay® doors), and Defense Electronics – has acquired Hunter Fan Company for $845 million is not sitting well with Voss Capital, a significant shareholder of Griffon. Read More |
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In Case You Missed It
LightFair Connect Conference Library Is Still Available Online
 Couldn’t make it to the educational sessions at LightFair in New York this year? LightFair organizers have a solution: LightFair Connect is a virtual, on-demand library of the conference sessions from LightFair 2021. Launched last month, it offers 27 sessions – with 32 available CEU credits – to continue the return of industry-wide education across lighting categories leading up to LightFair 2022. Read More |
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Meet the Winners of the 2021 Integrated Home Competition
 The Integrated Home Competition organizers have announced this year’s winners. The 17 high-quality and innovative designs selected best exemplify the four tenets of the CEE Integrated Home: Energy Savings, Demand Flexibility, Consumer Amenity, and Security. Read More |
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Festive Lighting
Miami Kicks Off 2022 With World’s Tallest Digital Countdown Clock
 Those welcoming the year 2022 in Miami – which was also the site of the televised Miley Cyrus New Year’s Eve Party – most likely did so in view of the city’s 700’-high Paramount Miami Worldcenter residential tower featuring the world’s tallest and most technologically advanced animation lighting system. Read More |
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Commercial Lighting News
DOE Invests Millions in Small Businesses for Clean Energy Tech
 The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $127 million in funding to spur research and development projects in America’s small businesses — including solid state lighting. Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, DOE is driving innovation for technologies that promise commercialization Read More |
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