HISTORY OF SMITH LIGHTING

Bob Smith jokes that he was born into lighting. It is nearly
true. Bob grew up in Cambridge, Mass. Bob's father
founded Smithcraft Lighting, a leading commercial
lighting manufacturer and one of the first producers of
linear fluorescent fixtures.

Bob grew up around lighting and in the mid to late
1960's, Bob acted as regional sales manager for
Smithcraft. When Smithcraft was acquired by another
commercial lighting manufacturer, the arrangment
prevented any member of the Smith family from
competing east of the Mississippi river.

It was at that time that Bob decided to found his own
rep firm, and he decided upon Oklahoma City based
on his previous travels and the friends and relationships
he had enjoyed here.

Smith Lighting Sales was started as a sole proprietorship in December of 1969. The company began in the back of a pickup camper and moved to a 10 x 10 office in 1970 at 1506 Linwood Boulevard. It was incorporated in 1971. In 1973 the company moved to a larger location at 4307 N. Walnut and was there until1996 when it moved to its present location at 4101 N. Walnut.

Smith Lighting over the years has grown from a one
man operation representing a few select manufacturers
to one of the largest lighting firms in Oklahoma, now
representing over 100 of the most recognized names in the lighting industry.

Our new facility provides the opportunity for architects, engineers, interior designers, electrical contractors, electrical distributors and owners to see many of our products installed and operating in an actual working environment. There are also color boxes for viewing various lamps and to compare color rendering indexes and color temperatures of these lamps against fabric, carpet and wallcovering samples.

A succession plan is in place so that Smith Lighting will
remain central Oklahoma's source for commercial
lighting after his retirement in 2010.