Due to increased sales, Kimberly LED Lighting has moved from its 4,000-square-foot headquarters in Auburn Hills to a facility in Clarkston that is more than six times larger, says John Lieblang, the company’s COO and co-partner.
“We launched about eight years ago, which was about three to four years ahead of the curve (for LED lighting),” Lieblan says. “And I think that has helped to put us in the position where we are now. As more and more things start to move into the green industry, prices are coming down because of new technologies and government incentives are in place — it’s a perfect wave of things coming into place for us to take off.”
The company, which provides LED lighting for the home and commercial industry, is on track to double its revenue to $4 million this year over 2013, Lieblang says. He expects to hire five to 10 additional, full-time employees by the end of 2015.
The new facility, located at 5827 Terex Drive, will include a showroom and house everything from LED light bulbs used in chandeliers to streetlights. About 5,000 square feet will be designated as office space, and the company plans to co-locate vendors in 10,000 square feet of open space.
In keeping true to the company’s mission of reducing energy consumption and costs while enhancing the environment, the facility features all LED lighting. “Maybe not behind the emergency exit signs, but that’s about it,”Lieblang says.
In terms of future growth, Lieblang says the firm’s sweet spot is the B2B segment, although they still count consumers and home contractors among its clientele.
He adds that the company was fortunate to connect with Traverse City-native Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV’s Trading Spaces, who was seeking LED products for his new winery, Bonobo Winery, set to open on Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City next month. Oosterhouse introduced Kimberly LED Lighting to representatives of the DIY Network, and as a result, the company will be featured on one of the network’s shows this fall.
