Solus
Solus Inc., founded in 2009 in Portland, Oregon, is a regional lighting company providing specification-grade lighting distribution, design consultation, and construction planning services to architects, designers, and contractors across Oregon and Southwest Washington, representing 40+ manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solus does
Solus Inc., founded in 2009 and headquartered at 1820 E Burnside in Portland, Oregon, is a privately held lighting company that operates across three integrated service lines — design, construction, and distribution — for specification-grade lighting projects. It serves architects, lighting designers, interior designers, engineers, contractors, and distributor partners throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, aggregating more than 40 lighting manufacturer brands under a single regional representation agreement.
The company's product portfolio spans decorative, architectural, landscape/site, acoustic, controls, downlights, quickship, and sustainability-focused categories, with 18+ sub-categories in each of decorative and architectural lines. Notable product capabilities include Fail-Safe Germicidal UV (GUV) disinfection solutions (GLR, CSL, GH, GUC, GTR product families offered through a core partnership with Cooper Lighting Solutions), circadian/color tuning lighting, acoustic-integrated luminaires, healthcare perimeter lighting systems, and Declare-labeled/Red List Approved products supplied by manufacturers such as USAI, Prudential Lighting, and Spectrum Lighting. The technology stack is conventional specification-grade LED lighting rather than proprietary hardware or software platforms.
Solus makes money through hardware pass-through distribution (manufacturer-to-customer shipping with sales rep margin) and through professional services including design consultation, specification guidance, and construction planning. Pricing is quote-based via direct sales engagement ([email protected]), with multi-year project contract cadence typical of commercial construction. The company runs a sales-led go-to-market motion supported by a multi-channel marketing program that includes email newsletters (55+ editions published), virtual 4-in-1 Live Zoom events, factory tours (Italy, New York, Barcelona, Calgary), trade shows (Crazy About Controls 2023), and Lunch & Learn educational sessions. Enterprise customer references include ZGF Architects (interior design projects), Umpqua Bank (Plaza Tower Lobby), First Tech Federal Credit Union (branch), Airbnb (Customer Experience Hub), NW Natural Gas, and the historic Meier & Frank Building redevelopment. The firm has earned IES Illumination Awards (2020) and Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Awards (2019, 2020) for lighting projects it specified.
Solus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solus
- Legal name
- Solus Inc.
- Website
- https://solus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solus Inc., founded in 2009 in Portland, Oregon, is a regional lighting company providing specification-grade lighting distribution, design consultation, and construction planning services to architects, designers, and contractors across Oregon and Southwest Washington, representing 40+ manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Lighting Distribution and Specification
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- SIC
- Electrical Work (1731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Installation (HSAOAFAB), Commercial Lighting Fixture Installation (HSAOAFAM), Landscape Lighting Design & Layout (HSAIAHAA)
Keywords
Where Solus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Lighting Products Distribution: Distribution of specification-grade lighting products from multiple manufacturers including decorative, architectural, landscape, and controls categories
- Lighting Design Services: Expert guidance and consultation for lighting designers, architects, interior designers, engineers and specifiers
- Construction Planning Services: Practical lighting and control solutions translating design concepts into deliverable projects
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation through sales team |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Solus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solus is a regional lighting representative and distributor that provides specification-grade lighting products along with design guidance, construction planning, and distribution services to architects, lighting designers, engineers, and contractors throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its portfolio spans architectural, decorative, landscape, acoustic, color-tuning, germicidal UV, and sustainability-certified lighting sourced from 40+ manufacturers, supported by lighting controls integration and code-compliance training.
Product overview
Solus is an Oregon-based lighting company providing design, construction, and distribution services for lighting solutions throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company operates as a lighting distributor offering architectural, decorative, landscape, and specialty lighting products from multiple manufacturer partners. Their portfolio includes Fail-Safe GUV Disinfecting Solutions (GLR, CSL, GH, GUC, GTR product lines), acoustic lighting, color tuning solutions, quickship products, and sustainability-focused lighting. Solus provides expert guidance to lighting designers, architects, engineers, and construction professionals, with services spanning design consultation, construction planning, and distribution logistics. The company partners with lighting manufacturers including Cooper Lighting Solutions, Flos, Marset, OCL, Scott Architectural Lighting, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lighting Design Services Expert specification guidance for lighting designers, architects, interior designers, engineers and other specifiers to navigate lighting options and resolve issues before they become problems.
- Lighting Construction Services Practical lighting and control solutions that take design concepts and create deliverable implementations for construction professionals.
- Lighting Distribution Services Distribution of specification-grade lighting products from more than 40 manufacturer partners, with close monitoring of design and construction trends to keep product options current.
- Controls Integration Services Multi-vendor lighting controls integration across Cooper Lighting Solutions (WaveLinx), BubblyNet, Crestron, Emergi-Lite, ILC, OnLine Power, and Sensorworx for architectural projects.
- Fail-Safe GUV Disinfecting Solutions Germicidal UV (GUV) lighting product line including GLR (Germicidal UV Louvered Recessed), CSL (Germicidal UV Striplight), GH (Germicidal UV Highbay), GUC (Germicidal Undercabinet), and GTR (Germicidal UV Troffer Recessed) for air, surface, and object disinfection.
- Architectural Lighting Products Architectural lighting solutions across 18 architectural categories including healthcare lighting, perimeter lighting systems, downlights, and micro optic products.
- Decorative Lighting Products Decorative lighting across 18 decorative categories including chandeliers, pendants, table lamps, floor lamps, portable lamps, vanities, wall mounts, and illuminated mirrors.
- Landscape and Site Lighting Products Outdoor and site lighting including bollards, exterior downlights, exterior sconces, exterior wall mounts, illuminated handrails, ingrade lights, pathlights, and spot lights.
- Acoustic Lighting Solutions Acoustic lighting products combining illumination with sound-absorbing panels, integrating manufacturers such as Shaper (Shaper Sense Acoustic Drum Family) and Focal Point (Seem 1 Acoustic Trio).
- Color Tuning Solutions Color tuning lighting products enabling adjustable color temperatures and RGBW color changing capabilities for circadian and dynamic lighting applications.
- Quickship Lighting Products Lighting products with expedited shipping options and fast lead times for urgent project needs.
- Sustainability-Focused Lighting Sustainable lighting products from manufacturers with Declare labels and Red List Approved status, including USAI, Prudential Lighting, Spectrum Lighting, and Lindsley Lighting.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ years in business serving Oregon and Southwest Washington
Companies that use Solus
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Solus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
52 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cooper Lighting SolutionscorePrimary controls and lighting manufacturer partner providing UV-C disinfection solutions (Fail-Safe GUV), WaveLinx control systems, and energy code training (ASHRAE/IES 90.1, IECC). Cooper's products featured prominently in Solus events and product offerings.
- FloscoreItalian lighting manufacturer featured in Spring Virtual Event Series, showroom tours, and product showcases. Products include Coordinates, Infrastructure, Belt, Super Line Pro, Circle of Light, and custom capabilities through Flos Custom by Lukas.
- MarsetcoreSpanish lighting manufacturer featured in virtual events. Notable products include the Ginger collection with wood materials, Follow Me portable lamp (event giveaway), and sustainability-focused designs.
- Scott Architectural LightingcoreUS manufacturer featured in events and product showcases. Products include mirrors, Punto, Cupola, Minimo, Square Man series, and decorative architectural troffers.
- KreoncoreEuropean lighting manufacturer featured in virtual events and giveaways. Products include Raga bollard, Up, Oran, Side, Onn Wall, Nuit, and micro optic products for architectural applications.
- VibiacoreSpanish lighting manufacturer featured in Spring Virtual Event Series and product showcases including Palma collection.
- ZaneencoreLighting manufacturer bringing European designs to North America. Products include Tunto (Finnish wood lighting), Formala, Snooker with Gravity Lift system. Featured in virtual events and sample tours.
- Cerno GroupcoreCalifornia-based manufacturer combining modernism with natural materials (walnut, oak). Products include Penna pendant and sconce, featured in virtual events and sustainability content.
- Tech LightingcoreAmerican lighting manufacturer featured in Spring Virtual Event Series with products including chandeliers and architectural fixtures.
- Oxygen LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events and product showcases.
- BovercoreBarcelona-based lighting manufacturer with distinct designs from respected designers. Featured in virtual factory tour of Barcelona showroom.
- VistosicoreItalian manufacturer with 500-year history of Murano glass. Products combine old-world artisan glass blowing with modern LED technology. Featured in Italy factory tour.
- OCL LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featuring GlowBall pendant with revolutionary silicone diffuser. Featured in virtual events and product showcases.
- Inter-LuxcoreLighting manufacturer bringing European designs to US market. Products include Spilla porcelain flower luminaire, expanded 20 Linear family. Featured in events.
- LodescoreEuropean lighting manufacturer featuring Jim, Vinyl, Easy Peasy, Random Solo, Cima products. Featured in virtual events.
- Focal PointcoreUS manufacturer featured in virtual events. Products include Focus Wall Wash, Seem 1 Acoustic Trio, Ori, AirCore Bridge, and decorative architectural troffers Facetta and Zephyr.
- USAIcoreLighting manufacturer working with International Living Future Institute. 80% of products qualified as Red List Approved. BeveLED Mini Complete and BeveLED 2.2 Complete have Declare labels.
- Prudential LightingcoreSouthern California manufacturer established 1955, hand-making products with environmentally-friendly materials. Linear Aluminum, Pendant Aluminum, Steel Pendant and Recessed luminaires have Declare Labels.
- Spectrum LightingcoreManufacturer with 30+ years in business practicing sustainability. Working with ILFI on Declare labels. STT3-XT track head with Xicato emitter currently listed.
- Lindsley LightingcoreSustainable lighting company led by Karen Jes-Lindsley and Alan Lindsley. All manufacturing in USA with RoHS compliant materials. Featured in sustainability podcast and events.
- LuminiicoreLighting manufacturer featuring Plexineon Rings for catenary and decorative applications. Now includes Senso product line for specification grade directional lighting.
- EcosensecoreLighting manufacturer featuring Rise projector with Laser Spot optic. Featured in winter lighting inspiration with projects like Lewis & Clark College bridge.
- Bartco LightingcoreCalifornia manufacturer offering Faux | Real collection with real wood cladding and aluminum housing. Products include rectilinear directional and bi-directional LED fixtures.
- CSL LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events.
- SPI LightingcoreArchitectural lighting manufacturer featured in virtual events.
- SeluxcoreLighting manufacturer featuring Piix MRC with micro reflector cells for precise beam angles.
- SonnemancoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events with Quattro Task Light (event giveaway).
- Mojo IlluminationcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events.
- Two PartscoreLighting manufacturer featuring 3D printed ceramic and LED products by architect Christo Logan. Featured in events and cluster giveaways.
- ShapercoreLighting manufacturer featuring Shaper Sense Acoustic Drum Family. Featured in events.
- EstiluzcoreLighting manufacturer featuring Alfi, Volta, Circ, Revolta, Aro collections. Featured in virtual events and product showcases.
- ALW LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featuring MoonRing Crescent with rotatable connectors, HBEAM 1.25 and HBEAM Micro. Featured in events.
- GammaluxcoreLighting manufacturer featuring custom and 3D series products, G-Beam GB. Featured in virtual events.
- Generation LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events. Cotra table lamp featured as event giveaway.
- Intense LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featuring V-Rail system for architectural applications. Featured in virtual events.
- Kuzco LightingcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events alongside Alora Lighting.
- Matrix MirrorscoreLighting manufacturer featuring illuminated mirrors. Featured in virtual events.
- Moda LightcoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events.
- JescocoreLighting manufacturer featuring linear LED products. Featured in virtual events.
- LigeocoreLighting manufacturer featured in virtual events and line card.
- SensocoreCalgary-based manufacturer of specification grade directional lighting including recessed, track, display, surface, and pendant fixtures. Now part of Luminii line.
- BubblyNetcoreControls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show with hands-on workshops.
- CrestroncoreControls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show with hands-on workshops.
- Emergi-LitecoreEmergency lighting controls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show.
- ILCcoreLighting controls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show with hands-on workshops.
- OnLine PowercorePower controls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show.
- SensorworxcoreSensor controls manufacturer featured at Crazy About Controls Trade Show.
- Ligman Lighting USAcoreDesigner and manufacturer of outdoor LED lighting solutions. Hillsboro facility tours hosted by Solus. Products include Woodland Series with wood grain finishes.
- BeluxcoreLighting manufacturer featuring Baby Cloud product featured in virtual events and giveaways.
- El TorrentcoreLighting manufacturer featuring Dento, Cloche, Eva, Koord products. Featured in virtual events.
- Straightaway CocktailsminorPortland cocktail company providing sampler packs as prizes for virtual event series participants.
- Oregon Food BankminorOregon Food Bank received $3,619 donation from Solus Spring Virtual Event Series. Participating manufacturers contributed donations to support food distribution through 21 regional food banks and 1,400+ distribution sites.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Insight Lighting: Specification-focused architectural lighting manufacturer that sells into the same architect-and-designer specification channel Solus serves — comparable customer base and project-driven business model.
- SESCO Lighting: Mid-size independent lighting agency/distributor operating a manufacturer's rep model serving architects, contractors, and end users with specification-grade lighting products — the closest functional analog to Solus in the U.S. lighting representative channel.
- MainLight Industries: Independent lighting manufacturer's representative and distributor serving design, specification, and construction markets across multiple U.S. regions — closely comparable rep-firm business model and customer base to Solus.
- Barbizon Lighting: Long-standing U.S. lighting distribution and systems integrator supplying entertainment, architectural, and specification lighting to designers and contractors — overlaps Solus's specification distribution and design-adjacent services in commercial markets.
Broad incumbents
- Acuity Brands: One of the largest North American lighting and lighting-controls manufacturers; competes indirectly as a brand portfolio Solus's manufacturer partners must offset against, and as an increasingly vertically integrated specifier-facing organization.
- Sonepar USA: U.S. arm of one of the world's largest electrical distribution groups; broad incumbent with overlapping products (luminaires, controls) reaching the same electrical contractor and lighting specifier customer base, but at vastly larger scale.
- Rexel USA: Major global electrical products distributor serving contractors, industrials, and commercial customers across lighting and controls — competing incumbent at scale with Solus's commercial contractor and specification end markets.
- Signify: Global lighting manufacturer (formerly Philips Lighting) and parent of Cooper Lighting Solutions — one of Solus's key partners. Competes as a vertically integrated brand that can bypass rep channels and reach specifiers directly.
- Wesco International: Large U.S. electrical and communications distribution platform serving construction, industrial, and utility customers with lighting products and controls — broad incumbent adjacent to Solus's commercial customer base.
Others
- Flos: Italian premium decorative and architectural lighting manufacturer that Solus represents in PNW; overlaps as an upstream supplier/marketing partner and as a designer brand that increasingly sells direct to global specifiers, indirectly shaping Solus's competitive positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solus social profiles
Digital presenceSolus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Solus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solus
What does Solus do?
Solus is a regional lighting representative and distributor that provides specification-grade lighting products along with design guidance, construction planning, and distribution services to architects, lighting designers, engineers, and contractors throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its portfolio spans architectural, decorative, landscape, acoustic, color-tuning, germicidal UV, and sustainability-certified lighting sourced from 40+ manufacturers, supported by lighting controls integration and code-compliance training.
Is Solus a public or private company?
Solus is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solus founded?
Solus was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solus based?
Solus is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solus make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Lighting Products Distribution is the primary driver. The others are lighting Design Services and construction Planning Services.
Who are Solus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Insight Lighting, SESCO Lighting, MainLight Industries and Barbizon Lighting. Broad incumbents are Acuity Brands, Sonepar USA, Rexel USA, Signify and Wesco International. Flos is listed as an others.
Does Solus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solus.
What industry is Solus in?
Solus's product category is Commercial Lighting Distribution and Specification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAJ, Lighting Design Services, with a secondary code of HSAOAFAB, Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Installation. Its NAICS code is 541320 and its SIC code is 1731.