London — UK heritage lighting brand Coolicon Lighting is expanding its international footprint after turning its 90-year history and traditional manufacturing expertise into a growing export business. The company, which specialises in handmade vitreous enamel lighting, received the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2023 in recognition of exceptional short-term growth in overseas sales.
Founded on a lighting design first patented and produced in 1933, Coolicon has preserved traditional manufacturing techniques while adapting its products for contemporary residential, retail and commercial interiors. Its lampshades continue to be handmade in England by skilled craftspeople, maintaining production methods associated with the original Coolicon design.
The company has built an international wholesale and distributor network spanning nine geographical territories across Europe, Asia and the United States. Its expansion strategy includes maintaining local stock holdings that comply with regional regulations, allowing distributors and retailers to serve customers more efficiently in different markets.
Europe was Coolicon’s first major export market, providing the foundation for its broader international strategy. The company subsequently divided its global expansion efforts into three principal regions: North America, the European Union and Asia, targeting premium lighting retailers, interior designers, architects and commercial projects.
Breaking into established European lighting markets has presented significant challenges, particularly in countries such as Scandinavia, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, where established domestic and regional brands have strong positions. Coolicon has sought to differentiate itself through British heritage, craftsmanship, product quality and a distinctive design that has been associated with industrial lighting for generations.
Exports have become a central component of Coolicon’s growth strategy since the brand’s production was re-established in the UK in 2015. According to the company, international sales now account for approximately 75% of annual turnover, demonstrating the growing importance of overseas markets to a business whose core product has historically been closely associated with the British market.
North America represents one of the company’s most significant recent export milestones. After months of work establishing distribution channels, meeting regulatory requirements and redesigning products for US compliance, Coolicon entered the market with more than 200 lamps installed in US interiors, marking the first significant commercial expansion of the brand into North America.
Looking ahead, Coolicon Lighting plans to deepen its international distribution network by working with selected distributors, retail brands, architects and commercial project partners. The company’s strategy is built around stable pricing, skilled UK manufacturing and high-quality products, while using international demand to sustain traditional craftsmanship and support the next phase of growth for a British lighting brand that has been in production for more than nine decades.
