So many car audio shops are adding LED performance lighting to their mix that the category is becoming a common sideline for 12 volt stores.
LED replacement lights, halo kits, light bars and accent lighting are so popular that Vision X said its sales to 12 volt retailers are up 150 percent this year.
Al & Ed’s Autosound, Freeman’s Stereo Video and Tint World are all in the process of expanding the category, as are many specialists.
At Tint World, lighting just evolved from a side category to a key product category at the chain, just as car stereo and window tinting are key categories. Some of Tint World franchisees are adding new custom lighting displays. The chain sells HID kits under its own brand, and also sells a lot of light bars and truck lighting.
Lighting is offered at one of Freeman’s seven stores and is being rolled out to some of its other locations. At the one store, lighting accounts for 40 percent of the store’s overall sales.
Car Toys also sells performance lighting and says the category “sells reasonably well.” Audio Express carries Race Sport and says its business in the segment is expanding.
Al & Ed’s is in the process of creating in store displays and posters for lighting.
Product manager John Haynes of Al & Ed’s notes, “Right now General Motors is featuring on TV the 2014 Chevy Silverado with the first ever bed lighting. It has four LED bars mounted on the inner sides. Any 12 volt store could put those in cars.”
He said, “We’re successful in selling running lights and head light upgrades, but we’re still developing the accessory lighting category.”
One challenge for retailers is to take the maze of lights; say LED lights in 2, 3 and 4 inch sizes and LED strips and spot lights and convert them into packages that consumers can easily grasp like a door lighting kit, or a truck bed kit.
Retailers also mentioned the challenge of negotiating through a maze of lower cost products that may not be reliable or choosing to go with only higher end products that are more reliable, but may scare away some customers due to the price.
Lighting vendor Race Sport said sales to car stereo dealers are increasing and its sales in general increased 150 percent last year and 175 percent the year prior.
One of the growth spots at Race Sport are light bars, which are making their way from use in off road vehicles and finding uses on trucks and boats. Another area of growth is door valet logo kits that project a light image on the ground when you open the car door. See video here: http://youtu.be/GygZMCOXlig
Also on the rise are spot light and tape strip lighting which can be used to line subwoofer boxes or even part of an engine. The strips are flexible and can be cut to fit.
LED maker Vision X actually started as a 12 volt dealer near Seattle. It branched into lighting and started selling products to truck outfitters. It began to manufacture its own products and is now is listed as one of the Inc. 500/5000 fastest growing companies, with franchises in 55 countries.
It recently added distributors including MRI and Custom Plus Distributing to work with more car audio dealers.
Vision X VP Nick Irwin says, “Just recently we’ve had a big influx of 12 volt stores coming back to us. 12 volt retailers have taken a big hit in the last five years, so they are looking for new revenue.”
Source: CEoutlook
In addition to offroad lighting we have enjoyed a huge increase in accent lighting. Used to be, customers would add lighting to audio jobs. Now lighting jobs lead to audio/systems.
We recently had a customer add a full custom audio system when he saw how far the car had to come apart to put led’s where he wanted.
Another benefit is customers trying to one up each other and coming in to add more and more lights. This turns into upgraded switches and switch panels, remote controls and strobe circuits.
Thankfully, it is not limited to cars and trucks. We have had massive lighting jobs in boats and RV’ too.