JC Licht

Name

JC Licht

Legal name

JC Licht LLC

Website

https://jclicht.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Addison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Paint Sales: Retail sale of interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, and specialty coatings primarily from Benjamin Moore and other premium brands. Products sold in various sizes from sample pints to full gallons.
2. Window Treatments: Custom window treatments including blinds, shades, shutters, and draperies. Hunter Douglas products prominently featured with professional installation consultation services.
3. Hardware and Tools: Hardware products through JC Licht Ace partnership locations, including tools, outdoor living, lawn and garden, and general hardware supplies.
4. Professional/Contractor Sales: Dedicated commercial and contractor sales division offering industrial coatings, wood coatings, and professional equipment.
5. Delivery Services: Local delivery within 30 miles of store locations. Free delivery on orders above $75, $10 fee for orders below $75.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

JC Licht is a Midwest regional retailer that sells Benjamin Moore interior and exterior paints, primers, wood stains, specialty coatings, custom window treatments, wallpaper, paint supplies, and hardware through 48+ physical stores and an e-commerce platform. The company complements product sales with in-store and in-home color consultation services, computerized paint color matching, and a dedicated professional contractor division for industrial coatings and equipment. JC Licht Ace partnership locations extend the footprint into hardware, tools, outdoor living, and home improvement categories.

Product overview

JC Licht operates as a regional paint, window treatments, and home improvement retailer with 48+ locations in Chicagoland and Wisconsin. The core offering centers on Benjamin Moore paints (which JC Licht sells more of than any other Midwest dealer) supplemented by Romabio, Farrow & Ball, Fine Paints of Europe, and General Finishes products. The product portfolio spans interior and exterior paints, wood stains and finishes, primers, specialty coatings (SCUFF-X, faux finishes, Venetian plaster), paint color sampling (half-pint samples and peel-and-stick samples), and custom window treatments (cellular shades, Roman shades, Hunter Douglas products). JC Licht Ace hardware stores (Ace Hardware partnership) extend the offering with general hardware, tools, outdoor living, and services like delivery, assembly, and color matching. A separate professional division serves commercial and industrial contractors with industrial coatings, wood lacquers, and equipment. The company was founded in 1907 and remains family-owned.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JC Licht Home: Premium paint and design showroom concept offering curated paint colors and design services
• JC Licht Ace Hardware

Products and services

• Benjamin Moore Interior Paints Premium interior paint products including the super-premium Aura line, mid-tier Regal Select and ben lines, specialty paints like SCUFF-X and Eco zero-VOC options, in various sheens from flat to high-gloss. Sold to homeowners and contractors.
• Benjamin Moore Exterior Paints High-performance exterior paints including Aura Exterior, Regal Select, Element Guard with moisture protection, and Ultra Spec EXT, designed to withstand weather while protecting siding and trim.
• Wood Stains & Finishes Interior and exterior wood stains, clear finishes, and wood care products including Benjamin Moore Woodluxe, General Finishes, Old Masters, and Ready Seal for decks, siding, and furniture.
• Primers Interior and exterior primers for surface preparation including Fresh Start, Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer, Zinsser products, and specialty primers for problem surfaces, metal, and stains.
• Half-Pint Paint Color Sample 8 oz paint color samples in Interior Latex Eggshell formula available in over 3,000 colors, allowing customers to test paint colors on walls before committing to a full project. Priced at $6.29.
• Peel & Stick Paint Samples 9" x 13" repositionable paint sample chips made with real Benjamin Moore paint. Features mess-free application, accurate color display with texture, non-damaging adhesive, and wraps around corners for multi-wall color testing. Priced at $5.99 each.
• Specialty Paints Specialty coating products including Ultra Spec SCUFF-X scuff-resistant paint, Hollandlac high-gloss finishes, Fine Paints of Europe Sign Enamel, chalkboard and dry erase paints, wood grain fillers, and faux finish products like Venetian plaster and glazes.
• Romabio Limewash & Masonry Paints Eco-friendly limewash and mineral paint products from Romabio including Classico Limewash for interior and exterior, Masonry Flat and Textured paints, Velatura Mineralwash, Venetian Glaze, and Biogrip Micro Primer.
• Custom Window Treatments Custom window treatment products and services including cellular honeycomb shades, Roman shades, roller and solar shades, woven woods, plantation shutters, vertical blinds, wood and metal blinds, exterior shades, draperies, and Hunter Douglas products.
• Color Collections & Consultations Color consultation services and curated color collections including Benjamin Moore Affinity Colors, Aura Color Stories, Historical Colors, Williamsburg Collection, and Farrow & Ball collections, with in-home color consultation appointments available.
• JC Licht Ace Hardware Hardware retail partnership with Ace Hardware offering outdoor living, lawn and garden, tools, building supplies, plumbing, electrical, automotive products, plus services including key cutting, knife sharpening, glass cutting, equipment rental, and color matching.
• Professional/Industrial Coatings Specialized products and services for commercial and industrial professionals including industrial coatings, wood lacquer/coatings, Festool equipment, Graco equipment, rental equipment and repairs, and professional contractor sales.
• Wallpaper Extensive wallpaper selection described as the largest offering in Chicago and the Midwest, featuring various styles, patterns, and designer collections.
• Paint Brushes & Applicators Professional-grade paint brushes including Corona Excalibur, Cortez, Tacoma, Vegas; Wooster Silver Tip, Gold Edge, and Pro series; plus stain brushes, masonry brushes, and various applicator tools.
• Paint Rollers & Roller Covers Paint rollers and covers including JC Licht lint-free woven rollers, Arroworthy microfiber rollers, Wooster 50/50 and Pro Doo-Z FTP covers, Corona Ultra Fast rollers, and various sizes from 4-inch mini to 9-inch standard.
• Hardware Services Value-added retail services at JC Licht Ace locations including free local delivery (orders $50+), free assembly (barbecues), computerized paint color matching, contractor/commercial sales, glass and plexiglass cutting, key cutting, knife sharpening, propane exchange, screen repair, small engine repair, window repair, and car key FOB programming.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Benjamin MoorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary paint brand partnership. JC Licht is the largest Benjamin Moore dealer in the Midwest. Exclusive focus on Benjamin Moore products as the core paint offering with full color collections and specialty products.
• Hunter DouglascoreTechnology or IntegrationPremier window treatment brand partnership. JC Licht features Hunter Douglas as the primary brand for custom blinds, shades, and window treatments with dedicated displays at showroom locations.
• Ace HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJC Licht Ace partnership combining paint expertise with hardware retail. JC Licht Ace stores offer paint and sundries plus hardware, tools, and Ace services. Multiple JC Licht Ace locations operate under Ace Hardware branding.
• Farrow & BallsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium paint brand partnership offering Farrow & Ball color collections at select locations with wallpaper displays.
• Fine Paints of EuropesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium European paint brand available at select locations including Hinsdale. Offers premium finishes for discerning customers.
• General FinishessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional-grade wood stains and finishes for interior projects. Carried at JC Licht retail locations with expert staff to advise on wood finishing projects.
• FestoolsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional power tools and equipment available at select locations and through online. Targeted at professional contractors and serious DIYers.
• RomabiosecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian limewash and masonry paint products for interior and exterior. Classico Limewash and Masonry Flat Paint available for distinctive textured finishes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Home Depot: National home-improvement big-box retailer carrying major paint brands including Behr and Benjamin Moore. Competes with JC Licht on convenience, price and pro-contractor programs across the same Chicagoland geography.
• Benjamin Moore: Premium paint brand owned by Berkshire Hathaway; JC Licht's primary supplier. Comparable premium positioning and curated color collections, but Benjamin Moore also sells through its own Signature Stores and a national independent-dealer network.
• PPG Paints (PPG Industries): Major global coatings manufacturer with a US company-store network (PPG Paints) selling interior/exterior paints, stains and industrial coatings. Comparable paint assortment and pro contractor focus, but at significantly larger scale.
• Lowe's: Second-largest US home-improvement big-box, selling HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, Valspar and other major paint brands. Directly competes on the DIY paint and window-treatment purchase occasions.
• Sherwin-Williams: Largest North American paint manufacturer and retailer with thousands of company-owned paint stores serving both DIY and pro customers. Directly comparable product set (paint, stains, coatings) and similar pro/consumer split, but at vastly larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Hirshfield's: Family-owned regional paint retailer founded in 1894 serving Minnesota and the upper Midwest with a comparable mix of premium paints, wallcoverings, window treatments and design services. Closest direct peer in size, geography and product mix.
• Diamond Vogel: Midwest-based paint manufacturer and retailer whose former store locations JC Licht acquired in 2022. Directly comparable paint-and-coatings retail model and overlapping Midwest footprint.
• Kelly-Moore Paints: Employee-owned US paint manufacturer and retailer with stores across the West and Southwest. Similar model of company-owned paint stores selling a proprietary premium paint brand plus commercial contractor services.

Emerging players

• Clare Paint: Digital-native direct-to-consumer paint brand selling curated color collections online with home-delivered samples and paint. Targets the same design-conscious DIY customer JC Licht serves, with a fundamentally different (e-commerce-first) model that pressures JC Licht's sampling and color-discovery funnel.

Regional players

• Ace Hardware: Cooperative hardware retailer and JC Licht's JC Licht Ace partnership partner. Overlaps with JC Licht's hardware assortment (tools, lawn & garden, outdoor living) and shared customer base of local homeowners and small contractors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jclichthome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jclicht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 JC Licht