Lighting Industry

The recent 90-day tariff reprieve between the U.S. and China, announced last week, marks a significant but temporary easing of trade tensions that have deeply affected the lighting industry and many other industries reliant on Chinese imports. The agreement reduces tariffs on imports from China from an unprecedented 145% to 30%, and on U.S. goods [...]

By Derek Bobbitt and Geoff Ling, Merrimack Group The first 100 days of the new U.S. administration have been tumultuous to say the least. The tariff war has caused major disruption to supply chains, caused significant stock market volatility, and stoked fears of inflation and recession. For lighting business owners, this environment has introduced a [...]

President Trump’s unprecedented tariffs on Chinese imports, which have triggered a dramatic drop in shipments from China to the United States, cast a shadow of uncertainty over the U.S. economy. President Trump, fulfilling campaign promises, has radically altered decades of American trade policy by imposing broad and unpredictable tariffs. As of early April 2025, a [...]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine has uncovered a potential link between blue light exposure and an increased risk of kidney stone formation, raising important questions about the health impacts of modern lighting and screen use. Kidney stones are a growing global health concern, traditionally associated with [...]

Here is a quick summary of 4 acquisitions and one bankruptcy, in the first quarter of 2025:  Kuzco acquired Insight Lighting. Details here. LEDVANCE acquires loblicht (German). Details here. Elemental LED acquires Gammalux Lighting Systems. Details here. LSI acquires CBH (display). Details here. Touche Lighting Control filed for bankruptcy. Details here. Reviewing the lighting manufacturer [...]

  The magazine Designers Today asked lighting manufacturers at High Point Market what were some of their best-performing categories. The answers highlight key categories and product preferences driving demand in the decorative lighting sector, as shared by industry leaders. Key Categories Driving Sales Portable Lighting: Table and floor lamps are experiencing a surge in popularity [...]

More utilities are offering rebates focused on replacing older LED lighting with newer, more efficient models. Early adopters of LED lighting from a decade ago are now finding it necessary to upgrade due to advancements in LED technology and the aging of their initial installations. Improvements in LED Technology LED technology has significantly advanced over [...]

The American Lighting Association (ALA) sent out a good summary of last week’s tariff escalations by the Trump Administration. President Trump is invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to, as the White House puts it, “address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit that [...]

Terry McGowan announced that he will be retiring as the Director of Engineering at the American Lighting Association (ALA). McGowan has had a distinguished 60-year career in the lighting industry, marked by innovation, education, and leadership. He began his career at GE Lighting, where he worked for 38 years in roles such as lighting application [...]