CW Lighting

What CW Lighting does

CW Lighting is a Houston, Texas-based manufacturer's representative agency that distributes architectural, commercial, decorative, industrial, and roadway lighting products on behalf of more than 30 manufacturers, including Philips, Color Kinetics, ETC, Watt Stopper, Signify-Interact, Lightolier, Axis Lighting, Beta Calco, Foscarini, Vibia, DCW Editions, Lodes, and Axolight. The firm operates six specialized sales divisions — Contractor/Distributor Sales, Controls/Technical Support, Industrial/Roadway Sales, Inside Sales, Quotations, and Specification Sales — staffed by approximately 40 personnel including four named partners (Dennis Congdon, Michelle Holman, Jerry Sacra, Tony Ovelgonne).

The company's core offering is specification-driven lighting distribution combined with technical support services. Specification sales professionals assist architects and designers with layouts, detail drawings, and sequences of operation during project design, while a field service team provides commissioning and start-up support for lighting control systems from ETC, Watt Stopper, Encelium, and Signify-Interact. CW Lighting has built a dedicated IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) compliance practice, prominently marketed around the City of Houston's January 2, 2024 code adoption. A project gallery and educational blog covering industry events, sustainability, and Dark Sky compliance support demand-generation efforts across the architecture, design, and contracting communities.

CW Lighting generates revenue through manufacturer sales commissions on represented product lines, with project-based, quote-based pricing managed through its sales teams and distribution channels. Customers include architects, designers, contractors, and distributors in the Houston metropolitan area across commercial, education, industrial, and municipal end-markets. The firm is privately held, partner-managed, and operates from a single headquarters at 7701 West Little York Rd, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77040.

Name

CW Lighting

Legal name

CW Lighting

Website

https://cwlighting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CW Lighting is a Houston-based manufacturer's representative agency distributing architectural, decorative, industrial, and roadway lighting products from 30+ manufacturers, with specialized specification, contractor, and controls-support sales divisions serving architects, designers, contractors, and distributors in the Houston metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Lighting Distribution

NAICS

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Industrial Lighting Retail (High Bay, Troffers, Warehouse) (CRAIAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI), Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ), Outdoor & Area Lighting (Street, Roadway, Parking, Flood, Sports/Architectural exterior) (IMAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Lighting distribution
• Manufacturer representation
• Lighting controls
• Architectural lighting
• Specification sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Representation and Sales Commissions: Operates as a manufacturer's representative agency earning commissions on sales of lighting products and controls through their network of contractors, distributors, and specification customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CW Lighting is a Houston-based manufacturer's representative agency that distributes commercial and architectural lighting products, lighting controls, and related services from 30+ lighting manufacturers to contractors, distributors, architects, designers, and industrial/roadway customers. The firm provides specification sales support, layout and detail drawings, field service/commissioning for lighting control systems, and guidance on energy code compliance (IECC).

Product overview

CW Lighting is a lighting agency/distributor based in Houston, TX, representing multiple lighting manufacturers. The company provides architectural and commercial lighting fixtures across various categories including decorative, landscape, outdoor, medical, educational, and wellness lighting. Their core offerings include lighting products from manufacturers such as Axis Lighting, Beta Calco, Color Kinetics, Lightolier, Philips, and others, along with lighting controls and entertainment solutions from brands like ETC, Watt Stopper, Encelium, and Signify Interact. The company also offers field service support for installed systems and code compliance guidance for IECC energy codes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multi-Manufacturer Lighting Product Distribution Authorized distribution of commercial and architectural lighting fixtures from 30+ manufacturers across categories including decorative, landscape, outdoor, medical, educational, and wellness lighting. Targeted at contractors, distributors, architects, and designers in the Houston metropolitan area.
• Lighting Controls Systems Distribution Distribution and support for lighting control systems from brands including ETC, Watt Stopper, Encelium, and Signify Interact, with technical support and integration services. Targeted at contractors, architects, and designers implementing lighting control solutions.
• Specification Sales Services Specialized specification sales support for architects and designers, including lighting layouts, photometric specifications, detail drawings, and sequence of operations documentation. Targeted at architects and lighting designers working on commercial construction and renovation projects.
• Lighting Controls Field Service & Commissioning Field service and commissioning support for installed lighting control systems, including startup, programming, and technical support across Color Kinetics, ETC, Watt Stopper, and ILC platforms. Targeted at contractors and end customers requiring post-installation support.
• IECC Energy Code Compliance Consulting Expert guidance and tools for International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) compliance, including Watt Stopper's code compliance guides and training resources aligned with City of Houston adoption effective January 2, 2024. Targeted at architects, designers, contractors, and developers needing to meet energy code requirements.

Named customers2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PhilipscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhilips is one of the major manufacturer partners represented by CW Lighting, providing a wide range of commercial and residential lighting products and LED solutions.
• Color KineticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColor Kinetics is an essential partner for architectural and entertainment lighting solutions, specializing in LED lighting systems with color-changing capabilities and smart lighting controls.
• ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorETC is a key lighting controls partner with dedicated start-up request forms, technical support resources, and service capabilities through CW Lighting's field service team.
• Watt StoppercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWatt Stopper provides energy code compliance solutions including IECC 2021 quick guides and lighting control products, with training and start-up request capabilities through CW Lighting.
• EnceliumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEncelium offers lighting management systems with CAD/design tools and commissioning support through CW Lighting's service capabilities.
• Signify - InteractminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSignify Interact provides connected lighting solutions and IoT platforms with start-up request forms and CAD/design tools available through CW Lighting.
• LightolierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLightolier is a manufacturer partner specializing in architectural lighting with educational resources and design tools available through CW Lighting.
• Axis LightingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAxis Lighting is represented by CW Lighting for specification-grade architectural lighting products.
• Beta CalcominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeta Calco provides architectural lighting solutions featured in CW Lighting's gallery and product offerings.
• FoscariniminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian decorative lighting manufacturer featured in CW Lighting's decorative lighting blog content and manufacturer portfolio.
• Vibia LightingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish lighting manufacturer represented by CW Lighting for high-end architectural and decorative lighting solutions.
• DCW EditionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench manufacturer of timeless decorative lighting objects featured in CW Lighting's decorative lighting content.
• LodesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian lighting manufacturer specializing in contemporary design and Made in Italy products represented by CW Lighting.
• AxolightminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian manufacturer of high-end decorative lamps and modular ceiling/suspension lamps represented by CW Lighting.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Acuity Brands: One of the largest North American lighting and building solutions manufacturers, owning brands such as Lithonia Lighting, Gotham, and nLight. Several Acuity products flow through CW Lighting's distribution channel, making it both a partner and a competitive incumbent in the controls and architectural lighting space.
• Hubbell Lighting: Major US lighting manufacturer (Prescolite, Columbia Lighting, Litecontrol) competing in the same commercial and architectural lighting categories that CW Lighting represents. Represents both a competitive overlap and a potential partner line for a rep agency.
• Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting leader and parent of Philips Lighting and Color Kinetics — two of CW Lighting's core manufacturer partners. Operates a hybrid model of direct sales, distribution, and rep agencies that competes with and depends on firms like CW Lighting across the US.
• Cooper Lighting Solutions (Eaton): Eaton's lighting division and one of the largest North American architectural and commercial lighting manufacturers (Halo, Metalux, McGraw-Edison). Represents both a potential represented line and a competitive incumbent at the manufacturer level.
• Sonepar: World's largest electrical distributor with significant US presence through brands like Cooper Electric and National Electrical Supply. Operates in the same commercial lighting and controls distribution channel that CW Lighting's rep agency feeds into.
• Graybar: One of the largest North American electrical, lighting, and communications distributors. Overlaps with CW Lighting on commercial lighting and controls distribution but operates a national footprint, owns inventory, and serves a much broader contractor base across multiple product categories.
• Border States Electric: Employee-owned US electrical distribution company serving contractor, industrial, and commercial customers. Operates in overlapping commercial lighting and controls channels and competes for the same regional contractor relationships CW Lighting serves in Texas.
• Rexel: Global electrical distribution group with a substantial US lighting and controls business. Competes with CW at the distribution layer for commercial lighting projects and offers contractor-facing programs that intersect with CW's manufacturer representation model.

Regional players

• Vistar (lighting rep firm): Regional lighting manufacturer's representative agency with comparable multi-line representation, specification sales, and controls integration services. Closely mirrors CW Lighting's rep-agency business model in a different regional market, making it a strong functional peer.

Direct peers

• Wiedenbach-Brown: Texas-headquartered lighting and controls manufacturer's representative agency serving the same Houston/South Central regional market as CW Lighting with a comparable multi-line, specification-driven go-to-market model. The closest direct peer in terms of business model and geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CW_LIGHTING
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cw-Lighting-Associates-168950226449199
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cwlightingandassociates
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwlighting
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cwlighting7701

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 CW Lighting