The Light Center

What The Light Center does

The Light Center is a family-owned, full-service lighting retail and design company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, operating since 1971. The company sells residential and commercial lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, lamps, outdoor lighting, light bulbs, and home decor through a 13,000 sq ft showroom and an online storefront carrying 100,000+ products across 400+ product lines, complemented by an in-house luxury home decor sub-brand called Salt Market. Service lines include custom residential lighting design, commercial lighting design and project specifying, professional installation, lighting repair, and a specialty Lighting for Health offering focused on circadian rhythms, WELL Building Standards audits, spectroradiometer-based measurement, and lighting for senior citizens and Alzheimer's patients.

The Light Center serves three primary customer segments: individual homeowners in Northern Colorado seeking design-led residential lighting, trade partners (builders, electricians, interior designers, architects) requiring project-specifying support across residential and commercial builds, and commercial businesses, government entities, and municipalities needing energy efficiency retrofits and large-scale lighting layouts. Geographic reach spans Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Timnath, Berthoud, mountain communities including Steamboat Springs, Vail, Estes Park, and extends into Wyoming and Nebraska via trade partners.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining one-time product sales (retail and wholesale fixtures, fans, Salt Market decor), paid professional services ($100 in-home consultations, free showroom consultations), and hourly installation services with a one-year warranty. Marketing combines a content-driven blog, an active Instagram presence, monthly email promotions (10% off), and a trade discount program. Distribution operates through the physical Fort Collins showroom, e-commerce site (shop.lightcenterinc.com), direct field sales to trade partners, and an in-house professional installation team. The business is privately held with no external investment, no parent company, and no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

The Light Center

Legal name

The Light Center Inc.

Website

https://lightcenterinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Light Center is a family-owned, full-service lighting retail and design company in Fort Collins, Colorado, founded in 1971. It sells lighting fixtures, fans, and home decor through a 13,000 sq ft showroom and online storefront, while serving homeowners, trade partners, and commercial clients across Northern Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lighting Retail

SIC

Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700), Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)

akta.pro primary industry

Indoor Lighting Fixtures Retail (Ceiling, Wall, Pendant, Chandeliers) (CRAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lamps Retail (Table, Floor, Desk) (CRAIAHAE), Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Retail (Path, Flood, Security, Deck) (CRAIAHAC), Commercial & Industrial Lighting Retail (High Bay, Troffers, Warehouse) (CRAIAHAG), Commercial Lighting Fixture Installation (HSAOAFAM)

Keywords

• Residential lighting fixtures
• Commercial lighting design
• Ceiling fan retail
• Lighting installation services
• Home decor accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lighting Product Sales: Retail and wholesale sales of lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, and home decor through showroom and e-commerce. Access to 400+ product lines.
2. Installation Services: Professional lighting and fan installation throughout Northern Colorado. Installation charged hourly. Services include fixture replacement, bulb replacement, on-site repairs.
3. Lighting Design Consultations: Showroom and in-home consultations. Free showroom consultations, $100 initial fee for in-home. Includes personalized recommendations and wishlist building.
4. Salt Market Furniture & Decor: In-house luxury home decor and furniture brand under The Light Center umbrella, featuring high-end furniture, artwork, rugs, and unique gifts from global artisans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Light Center sells residential and commercial lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, lamps, outdoor lighting, mirrors, and home décor through a 13,000 sq ft showroom and online store, drawing from 400+ product lines. The company complements its product offering with professional lighting design consultations, dedicated residential and commercial design services, installation services, and wellness lighting design informed by circadian stimulus principles. It also operates a dedicated trade partner program serving builders, remodelers, electricians, designers, and architects.

Product overview

The Light Center is a full-service lighting retail company operating as a single unified offering with integrated services. Their core product portfolio spans residential and commercial lighting fixtures (chandeliers, pendants, wall lights, sconces, ceiling fans, lamps, outdoor lighting) complemented by the in-house Salt Market sub-brand for luxury home décor and furniture. Services include custom lighting design, professional installation, lighting for health consultations, and repair services. The company serves both retail customers and trade professionals (builders, electricians, designers, architects) through their 13,000 sq. ft. Fort Collins showroom and online catalog featuring 400+ product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Salt Market: In-house luxury home décor and furniture brand offering high-end furniture, artwork, rugs, unique gifts, and decor for style-conscious homes

Products and services

• Lighting Fixtures and Home Décor Retail
• Residential Lighting Consultation and Design A consultation and design service for homeowners covering fixture selection, placement, and layered lighting plans, delivered free in-home across Northern Colorado and Wyoming and remotely online.
• Commercial Lighting Design A lighting design service for commercial spaces including offices, retail, restaurants, hospitality, and outdoor/architectural applications, supported by lighting specialists including CLDs, LC, and LEED AP credentials.
• New Construction and Remodel Lighting Design A specialized lighting design service for new builds and remodels, collaborating with homeowners, builders, electricians, interior designers, and architects from planning through installation.
• Lighting Installation Services Professional installation services for fixtures purchased through The Light Center, with scheduling and support handled by the company alongside its trade partner network.
• Wellness Lighting Design A lighting design service using spectroradiometer analysis and circadian stimulus design principles to support health, sleep, and visual comfort in residential and commercial settings.
• Trade Partner Program A dedicated program offering trade pricing, dedicated account specialists, project support, and access to the showroom and inventory for builders, remodelers, electricians, designers, and architects.
• Government and Large-Scale Lighting Projects Lighting supply and design support for government and other large-scale projects, leveraging the company's specialist team and broad product portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free lighting evaluations for Northern CO residents potentially qualifying for utility rebates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Institute for Built Environment at Colorado State University with United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Began a case study in September 2019 to explore how specific lighting technology improves health and wellbeing of office occupants, comparing T12, LED, and other lighting conditions. Investigating differences between offices with windows and no windows. Case study is on pause but plans to continue with UV Sterilization research.
• Efficiency WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEfficiency Works Service Provider since 2009. Provides energy efficiency retrofits, rebate assistance, and free lighting evaluations for Northern CO residents and businesses.
• Frameworks Custom Homes + RemodelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing trade partner collaborating on residential lighting projects. Completed multiple projects together including Pinewood Remodel, Cherry Street Remodel, and Northern Colorado Outdoor Living Space.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lamps Plus: Largest specialty lighting retailer in the U.S., combining showroom, e-commerce, and design services across residential and commercial. Directly comparable to TLC's combined retail + consultation + installation model, but at national scale.
• Lumens: Online-first design lighting retailer with deep assortment of residential and commercial fixtures. Comparable to TLC's e-commerce catalog breadth and design-led positioning; competes for the same style-conscious homeowner.
• YLighting: Specialty online lighting retailer focused on modern and designer fixtures, now part of the Lumens family. Directly comparable assortment and target customer to TLC's online shop.
• Lightology: Design-forward lighting retailer with both showroom presence in Chicago and a national online catalog. Closely aligned with TLC's blend of curated assortment, designer appeal, and trade/specification services.
• Schoolhouse: Direct-to-consumer lighting and home goods brand with strong design credentials. Comparable to TLC's curated residential assortment and Salt Market premium positioning.
• Rejuvenation: Heritage lighting and home furnishings retailer (owned by Williams-Sonoma) with showrooms, restoration services, and designer fixtures. Directly comparable to TLC in curated residential lighting, restoration/repair, and premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Restoration Hardware (RH): Luxury home furnishings brand with galleries combining lighting, furniture, and decor. Comparable to TLC's Salt Market luxury positioning and showroom experience, but at much higher price points and national scale.
• West Elm: Modern home furnishings retailer with substantial lighting assortment and designer trade program. Overlaps with TLC on style-conscious residential lighting and designer referrals.
• Ferguson: Large plumbing, HVAC, and lighting distributor with showrooms serving builders, contractors, and designers nationwide. Overlaps with TLC's trade-partner go-to-market and commercial specification business, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Build.com: Online home improvement retailer (now part of Ferguson) with deep lighting category and trade accounts. Competes with TLC for builder/contractor purchasing and online residential shoppers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-light-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/lightcenterinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Light Center