Curtis Stout

What Curtis Stout does

Curtis Stout is a private, mid-south–based manufacturer's representative and value-added provider of electrical and adjacent technology solutions, founded in 1947 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and operating today through 9 offices across 7 states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida) with 130 employees. Each office functions as an individual profit center while sharing product knowledge and best practices across the network. The company operates eight service divisions: Lighting, Audio/Visual (CSAV), Utility/Industrial, Electrical, Alternative Energy (CS Energy Solutions), Campus Safety, Infection Control, and EV Charging Solutions. CSAV is an authorized representative of more than 100 manufacturer product lines for audiovisual system design and integration, while the broader company represents commodity and specification-grade electrical products meeting NFPA code requirements.

Underlying technology spans conventional electrical distribution (LED retrofit solutions with Energy Star and DLC certifications, 10+ year product lifespans) alongside more recent additions such as needle point bipolar ionization for indoor air quality, UV-AI autonomous disinfectant robots, AI-assisted gun detection and multisensor/vape detectors for campus safety, and smart EV charging infrastructure including DC fast chargers and solar-integrated fleet stations. Utility/Industrial work covers sophisticated power-quality projects for process industries and grid support, with documented projects including 15kV S&C Metal Enclosed Switchgear line-ups.

Curtis Stout's revenue model combines manufacturer's representative commissions on distributed electrical and AV products with project-based professional services — design, integration, installation, financing, and ongoing support — across its eight divisions. Go-to-market is sales-led, primarily direct/field sales to end users, contractors, OEMs, and system integrators, supplemented by quote-based project bids and zero-down LED retrofit financing structured to be cash-flow positive from day one. Marquee customers include the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, National WWII Museum, Smoothie King Center, LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry, Delta State University, and GE Capital IT Center of Excellence, spanning education, healthcare, cultural institutions, hospitality, sports/entertainment, and government.

Name

Curtis Stout

Legal name

Curtis Stout

Website

https://chstout.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Curtis Stout is a private manufacturer's representative and value-added provider of electrical, lighting, utility, audiovisual, campus safety, infection control, and EV charging solutions, founded in 1947 and serving end users, contractors, OEMs, and integrators across seven mid-south and southeastern states through nine offices and 130 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Distribution and Integration Services

NAICS

Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dimmer, Switch & Lighting Control Installation (HSAOAFAJ)

Keywords

• Electrical manufacturer representative
• Commercial lighting solutions
• Audiovisual system integration
• LED retrofit services
• EV charging infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer's Representative Sales: Curtis Stout operates as a manufacturer's representative earning commissions from manufacturers for product sales. They represent products and services for end users, contractors, OEMs, and system integrators while partnering with key electrical distributors.
2. Professional Audio/Visual Integration: Design and installation of turn-key audiovisual systems through CSAV division. Services include custom designed multimedia environments, system integration, and ongoing support.
3. LED Retrofit Services: CS Energy Solutions offers lighting assessments, engineered retrofit recommendations, installation services, and zero-down project financing. Rebates and incentives analysis included.
4. EV Charging Infrastructure: Design, consultation, installation and ongoing support for electric vehicle charging solutions across various industries

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Curtis Stout is a manufacturer's representative and value-added provider of electrical turn-key solutions, operating eight service divisions: Lighting, Audio/Visual (CSAV), Utility/Industrial, Electrical, Alternative Energy (LED retrofit), Campus Safety, Infection Control, and EV Charging Solutions. The company analyzes customer needs, sells and distributes products from over 100 manufacturer product lines, and delivers design, installation, integration, and ongoing support to end users, electrical contractors, OEMs, system integrators, utilities, healthcare facilities, campuses, and government facilities across the mid-south and Southeast U.S.

Product overview

Curtis Stout is a manufacturer's representative and value-added provider of electrical turn-key solutions offering eight distinct service divisions operating as a distributed network of individual profit centers across nine locations. The core portfolio includes Lighting (energy-efficient solutions for all applications), Audio/Visual (CSAV - turn-key AV system design and installation), Utility/Industrial (power systems equipment and services), Electrical (commodity and specification grade products), Alternative Energy (LED retrofits with financing options), Campus Safety (security systems), Infection Control (healthcare facility solutions), and EV Charging Solutions (electric vehicle charging infrastructure). These divisions share best practices and product knowledge while operating as individual offices, enabling tailored solutions for end users, contractors, OEMs, and system integrators across the mid-south territory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSAV (Curtis Stout Audio Visual): Professional integration firm specializing in the design and installation of turn-key audiovisual systems. CSAV is an authorized representative of over 100 manufacturer product lines.
• CS Energy Solutions

Products and services

• Lighting Lighting solutions for any application from boardrooms to energy-efficient warehouses to stadiums. Curtis Stout works with architects, interior designers, and electrical engineers to develop tailored lighting solutions.
• Audio / Visual (CSAV) Professional integration firm specializing in the design and installation of turn-key audiovisual systems including classrooms, conference rooms, auditoriums, and videoconference facilities. CSAV is an authorized representative of over 100 manufacturer product lines.
• Utility / Industrial Equipment and services for electric power systems delivering power efficiently and reliably, including sophisticated power-quality projects for uninterrupted power for entire facilities and crucial process industries.
• Electrical Broad range of commodity and specification-grade electrical products, systems, and services for end users, contractors, OEMs, and system integrators, including products required by the National Electrical Code and NFPA codes and standards.
• Alternative Energy (CS Energy Solutions) Alternative energy offering including LED lighting analysis, design, energy and cost savings analysis, engineered retrofit recommendations, LED retrofit financing (zero-down options), rebate and incentive analysis, and LED lighting installation and warranty services. Products are Energy Star performance and DLC safety certified.
• Campus Safety Comprehensive campus safety solutions including ballistic glass film, door barricade locking systems, gun detection technology, multisensor/vape detectors, and emergency response systems for educational campuses and similar facilities.
• Infection Control Infection prevention solutions for healthcare facilities, including antimicrobial lighting, UV lighting, UV-AI disinfectant robots, needle point bipolar ionization, indoor air quality monitors, and building monitoring systems.
• EV Charging Solutions Design, consultation, installation, and ongoing support for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including solar panel charging stations, DC fast chargers, Level 2 and Level 3 chargers, and smart fleet charging stations for various industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy and cost savings realized through LED retrofits typically exceed monthly financing payments, leaving cash flow positive from day one
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonepar: World's largest electrical distribution business operating in 40+ countries. Broad incumbent using a comparable manufacturer's rep / branch distributor model for electrical products and serving similar contractor, utility, and industrial customer types.
• Rexel: Global electrical distribution leader operating in 30+ countries. Broad incumbent with similar electrical product categories (lighting, wiring, utility-grade equipment) and overlapping customer base, but operating at much larger scale through thousands of branches.
• WESCO International: Fortune 500 electrical, communications, and utility distribution and supply chain services provider. Broad incumbent operating similar electrical distribution product lines and serving overlapping customer types at vastly larger scale than Curtis Stout.

Emerging players

• Ford Audio-Video: Professional audiovisual systems integrator serving commercial, education, healthcare, and government customers across multiple US regions. Comparable peer to Curtis Stout's CSAV division for AV design, integration, and ongoing support services.
• AVI Systems: One of the largest professional audiovisual integration firms in the US with offices across multiple states. Directly comparable to Curtis Stout's CSAV division as a similarly-modeled turnkey AV integrator serving education, government, and enterprise customers.

Regional players

• Border States Electric: 100% employee-owned regional electrical distributor serving customers across the central and western US. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized regional electrical distributor with overlapping focus on electrical contractors, utility, and industrial customers within a defined geographic footprint.
• Summit Electric Supply: Privately-held electrical distributor operating regional service centers serving industrial, commercial, and utility customers. Comparable as a similarly-sized regional electrical distributor with overlapping product breadth in lighting, electrical products, and utility equipment.

Direct peers

• Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED): One of the largest electrical distribution companies in the US with hundreds of branch locations. Directly comparable distributor operating similar manufacturer's rep / branch model focused on electrical contractors, industrial customers, and utilities across multiple US regions.
• Graybar: One of the largest electrical, communications, and data networking distributors in North America with hundreds of locations. Directly comparable to Curtis Stout as both operate as electrical product distributors serving contractors, utilities, and industrial customers with similar product portfolios including lighting, wiring, and electrical equipment.

Others

• Affiliated Distributors (AD): Buying and marketing group supporting independently-owned electrical and building products distributors across North America. Comparable as an ecosystem participant whose member companies (and direct competitors) share Curtis Stout's manufacturer-rep distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mrretrofit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curtis-stout

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Curtis Stout