NAILD

What NAILD does

NAILD (National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors) is a U.S. nonprofit trade association founded in 1977 that serves independent lighting distributors, lighting vendor manufacturers, and lighting industry professionals. Headquartered in St. Paul, MN with a 14-person staff, the organization operates as an industry platform whose mission is to provide members with tools, resources, and opportunities to grow their businesses profitably through education and networking. Its core programs center on the Lighting Specialist (LS) training suite — LS-I (entry-level fundamentals, priced at $499 per course), LS-II (advanced market-segment training for retail, industrial, office, and educational facilities), LS-Evolve (modular on-demand continuing education launched December 2020), and LS-C (lighting controls certification with three specialization tracks launched in 2026).

Course delivery runs on a self-hosted WordPress-based Learning Management System developed and maintained with Lakeside Web Solutions. Supporting assets include three official podcasts (Get a Grip on Lighting with 400+ episodes, Restoring Darkness focused on light pollution, and the Lighting Controls Podcast), Today's Lighting Distributor quarterly magazine, The Lighting Industry News Brief weekly newsletter, the annual NAILD Convention (held at venues such as the St. Paul Hotel), Innovation Days on-site at manufacturer facilities, Product Sprint Awards and Forces Under 40 Awards, the Lighting Controls Integrator Council formed in 2023, and the Lighting and Darkness Research Foundation formed in 2023. NAILD serves a horizontal customer base of independent lighting distributors, vendor manufacturers (e.g., Keystone Technologies, LEDVance, Light Efficient Design, Cooper Lighting, Lutron, Philips Lighting), and associate members across the United States, with convention attendance drawing from the U.S. and Canada.

NAILD's revenue model is a multi-stream association model combining recurring annual membership dues from distributor, vendor, and associate tiers with per-course training fees, annual convention registration and booth fees, podcast merchandise sales (apparel priced $15.50–$38.00), and advertising in TLD Magazine and the newsletter. Distribution channels are direct membership sales through naild.org, self-serve online training registration, the annual convention, the NAILD Shop e-commerce storefront, and the weekly newsletter. Vendor training is delivered free to members via monthly Zoom sessions, reinforcing member acquisition and retention.

Name

NAILD

Legal name

National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors

Website

https://naild.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAILD is a 1977-founded U.S. nonprofit trade association serving independent lighting distributors, vendor manufacturers, and lighting professionals through Lighting Specialist training (LS-I, LS-II, LS-Evolve, LS-C), annual conventions, podcasts, and publications from St. Paul, MN.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul, MN

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from lighting distributors, vendor manufacturers, and associate members. Provides access to training programs, networking opportunities, industry publications, and member benefits.
2. Training Program Fees: Revenue from LS-I ($499), LS-II, LS-C, and LS-Evolve training courses offered to members and non-members. Self-paced online courses with expert technical instruction.
3. Annual Convention: Annual convention revenue including registration fees, vendor booth fees, sponsorship opportunities, and networking event participation.
4. Shop and Merchandise: Sale of merchandise including podcast-related apparel (Get a Grip on Lighting, Lighting Controls Podcast, Restoring Darkness), training materials, and branded items.
5. Advertising: Advertising opportunities in NAILD publications including TLD Magazine, The Lighting Industry News Brief newsletter, and website advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NAILD is a nonprofit trade association serving independent lighting distributors, lighting manufacturers/vendors, and associate members since 1977. It provides industry education through its Lighting Specialist (LS-I, LS-II, LS-Evolve, LS-C) curriculum, hosts an annual convention, publishes Today's Lighting Distributor magazine and The Lighting Industry News Brief email, and produces industry podcasts including Get a Grip on Lighting, Restoring Darkness, and Lighting Controls.

Product overview

NAILD (National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1977 that drives lighting innovation through education, networking, and technology. The organization operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its core Lighting Specialist (LS) training programs: LS-I (entry-level fundamentals), LS-II (advanced market-segment training), LS-Evolve (on-demand modular courses), and LS-C (lighting controls certification). Supporting the training portfolio are the NAILD LMS (self-hosted learning management system), publications including Today's Lighting Distributor magazine and The Lighting Industry News Brief weekly newsletter, and three official podcasts: Get a Grip on Lighting, Restoring Darkness, and the Lighting Controls Podcast. NAILD also organizes the Annual Convention, Innovation Days at manufacturer facilities, Product Sprint Awards, Forces Under 40 Awards, a Lighting Controls Integrator Council, and the Lighting and Darkness Foundation. Vendor training sessions and a scholarship fund round out the member services ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Get a Grip on Lighting: Official podcast of NAILD discussing hot topics in the lighting industry, produced by members Michael Colligan of Atlas Lighting and Greg Ehrich of Premier Lighting
• Restoring Darkness
• Lighting Controls Podcast
• LS-I (Lighting Specialist I)
• LS-II (Lighting Specialist II)
• LS-Evolve
• LS-C (Lighting Specialist in Controls)

Products and services

• Lighting Specialist LS-I Certification Foundational level of NAILD's structured Lighting Specialist credentialing curriculum, providing baseline lighting industry education to distributor sales and operations staff.
• Lighting Specialist LS-II Certification Second-level Lighting Specialist credentialing course that builds on LS-I with deeper product, application, and selling knowledge for distributor personnel.
• Lighting Specialist LS-Evolve Certification Continuing-education tier of the Lighting Specialist curriculum, designed to keep credentialed distributor personnel current with evolving lighting technologies and market practices.
• Lighting Specialist LS-C Certification Controls-focused tier of the Lighting Specialist curriculum, addressing lighting controls as a discrete competency for distributor sales and technical staff.
• NAILD Annual Convention Annual in-person convention bringing together NAILD's independent lighting distributor members and vendor/manufacturer members for networking, exhibits, and education.
• Today's Lighting Distributor Magazine Member-targeted print publication covering lighting distribution industry topics, distributed to NAILD distributor and vendor members.
• The Lighting Industry News Brief Email-based news brief providing lighting industry updates and association news to NAILD members.
• Get a Grip on Lighting Podcast NAILD-produced industry podcast covering lighting business, technology, and channel topics for members and the broader lighting community.
• Restoring Darkness Podcast NAILD-produced industry podcast focused on lighting quality and darkness-related topics within the lighting industry.
• Lighting Controls Podcast NAILD-produced industry podcast focused specifically on lighting controls technology, applications, and channel implications.
• Distributor Membership Core NAILD membership tier for independent lighting distribution companies, granting access to education programs, the annual convention, and member publications.
• Vendor Membership NAILD membership tier for lighting manufacturers and vendors seeking channel access to NAILD's independent distributor membership and convention participation.
• Associate Membership NAILD membership tier for lighting industry reps, agencies, and allied service providers seeking access to the independent lighting channel community.
• Paul Hafner Memorial Scholarship Fund Named memorial scholarship fund administered by NAILD to support lighting education among students and emerging lighting professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Training programs have graduated 57+ professionals in single cohorts and continue to produce LS graduates regularly
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Halco LightingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHalco Lighting sponsors NAILD and displays web banner advertising on naild.org. Represents a marketing partnership with a major lighting manufacturer in the industry.
• Save Wasatch Back Dark SkiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAILD's Lighting and Darkness Foundation has partnered with Save Wasatch Back Dark Skies to fight light pollution in Wasatch County, Utah. Greg Ehrich gave technical presentation and Michael Colligan made emotional appeal to the Planning Committee. Goal is to strengthen local lighting ordinance to prevent uplight.
• Keystone TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey vendor member and recurring convention sponsor. Participates in vendor training sessions and podcast recordings. Won NAILD Product Sprint Awards 'Best Overall' two consecutive years (2016-2017).
• Light Efficient DesigncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor member conducting monthly vendor training sessions for NAILD. Doug Knebelsberger represents Light Efficient Design presenting on products including Remphos LBI 65 fixture. Participates in conventions and podcast.
• LEDVancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor member conducting vendor training sessions. Lynnette Schaeffer, LC, Director of Training, presents OPTI-SELECT and EZ-SWAP products. Training free to all distributor members.
• Cooper Lighting SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor on Lighting Controls Podcast. Martin Mercier from Cooper Lighting Solutions discussed DALI-2 and smart building technologies. Partnership for content creation and industry education.
• Green CreativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWon NAILD Product Sprint Award for 'Best Luminaire' (2017). Vendor member of NAILD with innovative lighting products showcased at annual conferences.
• Philips LightingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWon NAILD Product Sprint Award for 'Best Lamp' (2017). Major lighting manufacturer with products highlighted at NAILD annual conference.
• Lutron ElectronicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWon NAILD Product Sprint Award for 'Best Accessory/Service' (2017). Leading lighting controls manufacturer with products recognized at NAILD events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED): NAED is a trade association serving electrical distributors, many of whom also distribute lighting. Overlaps with NAILD in distribution channel training, education, and networking for distributor member companies.
• American Lighting Association (ALA): ALA is a trade association for the residential lighting industry, representing manufacturers, sales representatives, and distributors. Comparable to NAILD in its role as a lighting industry trade body with member services, training, and events.
• Illuminating Engineering Society (IES): IES is the leading professional society for the lighting industry, providing standards, education, and certification. Like NAILD, it serves lighting professionals and offers training/credentialing programs, making it the closest direct peer in mission and member base.

Others

• Inside Lighting: Inside Lighting is a digital publication covering the commercial lighting industry. Comparable to NAILD's newsletter and TLD Magazine as a lighting industry information source, but is media rather than a trade association.
• LEDs Magazine: LEDs Magazine is a B2B media brand covering the LED and solid-state lighting industry. Comparable to NAILD's TLD Magazine and newsletter as an industry information channel, but operates as media/advertising rather than a membership trade association.
• Strategies Unlimited: Strategies Unlimited provides market research and consulting for the lighting industry. Adjacent to NAILD's mission of advancing the lighting industry through information and education, but as a research vendor rather than a membership body.

Regional players

• IMARK Group: IMARK is a member-owned marketing group of independent electrical and lighting distributors in North America. Similar distributor-membership model to NAILD with shared educational and vendor-engagement programs, but operates as a buying/marketing co-op rather than a training trade body.

Emerging players

• EdisonReport: EdisonReport is a leading lighting industry news outlet and event organizer (Edison Awards). Adjacent to NAILD in serving lighting industry professionals with news, events, and recognition programs (akin to NAILD's Product Sprint Awards).
• DesignLights Consortium (DLC): DLC is a nonprofit focused on lighting quality and efficiency standards, particularly for commercial LED products. Related to NAILD's lighting-controls and efficiency efforts through the LS-C program, but focused on standards/QPL rather than training/distribution.

Broad incumbents

• NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association): NEMA is a broader trade association for electrical equipment manufacturers including lighting. Comparable as a lighting industry advocacy and standards body but with a wider electrical-equipment scope than NAILD's distributor focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GetAGripOnLighting/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 NAILD