C&O Sales
C&O Sales is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency for electrical and lighting manufacturers, connecting 150+ lighting and electrical brands with contractors, architects, and commercial buyers across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa via six staffed offices and dedicated specification, project management, and controls teams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What C&O Sales does
C&O Sales is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas (Overland Park metro), specializing in electrical and lighting manufacturers. Founded in 1965, the firm operates as the regional sales intermediary between lighting/electrical product manufacturers and downstream buyers — electrical contractors, architects and lighting designers, commercial and industrial facilities, and municipal/government accounts — across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. It staffs six offices (Lenexa/KS, Omaha, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Wichita, and Springfield) with dedicated outside sales, inside sales, specification sales, project management, and controls teams.
The product set is the manufacturer linecard rather than proprietary technology. C&O represents 175 lighting manufacturers in its Nebraska territory and 159 in Iowa, plus electrical principals consolidated on a PDF linecard, with featured products spanning architectural (Glacier Aspen 3 Tier), commercial outdoor (LSI All-Weather Downlight), and decorative (SPI Novato Globes) categories. The "platform" is a territory-structured digital linecard (searchable by product type or brand) backed by NEMRA-aligned industry education, a dedicated controls department offering startup commissioning, and a mission-critical/EPC solutions overlay.
The business model is commission-based representation: C&O is paid by the manufacturers whose lines it carries when specifications and orders flow through its sales force. Its 11-50 staff count (firmographics) is supplemented by an extended field-sales and quotations team covering each territory, and growth in the most recent fiscal year came primarily via the February 2023 acquisition of NRG Sales Lighting & Controls, which expanded the Iowa footprint and added 50+ independent lighting brands. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotations are handled through the inside-sales team. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
C&O Sales firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- C&O Sales
- Legal name
- C&O Sales Company
- Website
- https://cosalesrep.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- C&O Sales is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency for electrical and lighting manufacturers, connecting 150+ lighting and electrical brands with contractors, architects, and commercial buyers across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa via six staffed offices and dedicated specification, project management, and controls teams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
C&O Sales industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manufacturer's Representative Services
- NAICS
- Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies (BPAFAKAA)
Keywords
Where C&O Sales is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
C&O Sales business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Manufacturer's Representative Commission: C&O Sales operates as a manufacturer's representative agency, earning commissions from the lighting and electrical manufacturers they represent. The company connects manufacturers with customers through their sales teams across multiple territories.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
C&O Sales product offering
Product offeringCore offering
C&O Sales is a manufacturer's representative agency connecting lighting and electrical manufacturers with buyers across the Midwestern United States. The firm deploys dedicated outside sales, inside sales, specification sales, and project management teams across regional offices to source, quote, and support products on behalf of its manufacturer principals. It earns commissions on sales generated for the 150+ lighting and electrical brands it represents across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Product overview
C&O Sales is a manufacturer's representative agency specializing in electrical and lighting manufacturers. The company operates a multi-territory sales network covering Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and surrounding regions. Their product portfolio is organized through digital linecard platforms for each territory (Kansas/Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa) plus an electrical line card PDF. C&O represents over 175 manufacturers in Nebraska and 159 in Iowa, including lighting brands such as Glacier Architectural Lighting (Aspen 3 Tier), LSI Industries (All-Weather Downlight), and SPI Lighting (Novato Globes). The company connects manufacturers with businesses through personalized sales support, technical assistance, and product sourcing. In 2023, C&O expanded its Iowa presence by acquiring NRG Sales Lighting & Controls, incorporating over 50 additional independent lighting brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lighting Manufacturer Representation Services Sales representation services connecting businesses with top-quality lighting products and solutions for the electrical and lighting industries. Covers lighting manufacturer portfolios across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa, providing dedicated outside sales, inside sales, specification sales, quotations, and project management on behalf of represented manufacturers.
- Electrical Manufacturer Representation Services Sales representation services for electrical manufacturers across the firm's Midwestern territories, providing personalized support, technical assistance, and dedicated inside and outside electrical sales teams (including a Medium Voltage Specialist) to meet client needs.
- Controls Startup Services Field commissioning and startup support for lighting controls deployments, offered as a requestable service through the firm's online request form (JotForm) and supported by a dedicated Controls Department Lead and field technician team.
- Project Management Services Dedicated project management support for lighting and electrical deployments across the firm's Midwestern territories, led by a Project Manager Team Lead and multiple project managers serving Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri projects.
Companies that use C&O Sales
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
C&O Sales technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
C&O Sales partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NRG Sales Lighting & ControlscoreC&O Sales agreed to acquire the assets of NRG Sales Lighting & Controls in Iowa in late February 2023. This acquisition expanded C&O's presence in Iowa and the surrounding Great Plains region and incorporated NRG's representation of over 50 independent lighting brands.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
C&O Sales competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Acuity Brands: One of the largest lighting and building solutions manufacturers in North America. As a major principal, Acuity may or may not be among C&O's represented lines, but it represents the type of large manufacturer that competes for the limited rep-agency relationships and could choose to internalize sales in the Midwest.
Others
- NEMRA (National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association): The trade association for independent electrical and lighting manufacturer's representatives, of which C&O is an active member. Not a competitor, but a key ecosystem partner and industry network that defines best practices for firms like C&O.
- NAED (National Association of Electrical Distributors): The trade association for electrical distributors that are downstream customers of C&O's represented manufacturers. Channel counterpart rather than competitor; defines the supply chain C&O operates within.
Direct peers
- The Agency Associates: Lighting and electrical manufacturer's representative agency serving the Midwest, with comparable outside sales, inside sales, and specification sales structures similar to C&O's model.
- Shaper Lighting & Controls: Lighting-focused manufacturer's representative serving Western U.S. territories with specification-grade product lines; comparable in business model and customer segments (architects, designers, contractors) though geographic overlap is limited.
- Hein Electrical Sales: Independent electrical manufacturer's rep with regional Midwest coverage representing multiple manufacturers to electrical distributors and contractors — same model and channel as C&O.
- PG Sales & Marketing: Midwest-based lighting and electrical manufacturer's representative serving contractors and distributors with multi-line product representation, structurally similar to C&O's territory-based rep agency model.
- JTH Lighting Alliance: Independent lighting manufacturer's representative firm covering multiple states, directly comparable to C&O in business model, customer base (electrical contractors, architects, engineers), and channel function connecting manufacturers with regional buyers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
C&O Sales social profiles
Digital presenceC&O Sales financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
C&O Sales leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
C&O Sales funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
C&O Sales M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about C&O Sales
What does C&O Sales do?
C&O Sales is a manufacturer's representative agency connecting lighting and electrical manufacturers with buyers across the Midwestern United States. The firm deploys dedicated outside sales, inside sales, specification sales, and project management teams across regional offices to source, quote, and support products on behalf of its manufacturer principals. It earns commissions on sales generated for the 150+ lighting and electrical brands it represents across Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Is C&O Sales a public or private company?
C&O Sales is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was C&O Sales founded?
C&O Sales was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is C&O Sales based?
C&O Sales is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does C&O Sales make money?
One revenue line is on record: manufacturer's Representative Commission.
Who are C&O Sales's main competitors?
Acuity Brands is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are NEMRA (National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association) and NAED (National Association of Electrical Distributors). Direct peers are The Agency Associates, Shaper Lighting & Controls, Hein Electrical Sales, PG Sales & Marketing and JTH Lighting Alliance.
Does C&O Sales have an API?
No public API is recorded for C&O Sales.
What industry is C&O Sales in?
C&O Sales's product category is Manufacturer's Representative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAKAA, B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies. Its NAICS code is 335139 and its SIC code is 5040.