Coleto Brands Unites Kichler, Progress Lighting in Bold KBIS Debut

ORLANDO, Fla. – January 28, 2026 – In a move signaling a significant strategic realignment in the residential lighting sector, parent company Coleto Brands has announced that its two flagship organizations, Kichler and Progress Lighting, will present a unified front for the first time at the upcoming Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2026. The joint debut, set to unfold from February 17-19 in Orlando, will consolidate the two industry giants into a single, immersive booth experience, designed to showcase a cohesive vision for modern living.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Coleto Brands, which was formed following the 2024 acquisitions of both lighting companies by private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management. By bringing Kichler and Progress Lighting together under one banner at North America's largest kitchen and bath design trade show, the company is making a definitive statement about its future direction and market strategy.

A Strategic Consolidation Under a New Banner

The decision to merge the presence of Kichler, a brand founded in 1938 known for its balance of beauty and performance, and Progress Lighting, a company with over a century of leadership in decorative fixtures, goes far beyond a simple change in floor plans. It represents a calculated evolution in how Coleto Brands engages with its core audience of designers, builders, and distributors. The move mirrors a broader trend of consolidation within the home goods and lighting industries, where parent companies are increasingly seeking to streamline operations and leverage the combined strength of their portfolios.

Located at Booth No. W673 in the West Hall, the unified space is intended to demonstrate the synergy between the two brands. Coleto Brands aims to present a comprehensive and scalable range of solutions that cater to a wide spectrum of projects, from high-end custom builds to large-scale residential developments.

"For us, KBIS 2026 is a chance to demonstrate the combined strength of the Kichler and Progress Lighting brands and how the portfolios complement each other, providing lighting and ceiling fan solutions for every client, aesthetic, budget and build," says Kristina Christopher, Coleto Brands VP of Marketing. "We are excited to show how each brand is evolving to meet market needs, while also making it easy to integrate across both depending on specific project needs."

This integrated approach is supported by operational changes, including the creation of a singular sales agency representing both brands. The strategy aims to simplify the specification and purchasing process for trade professionals, who can now explore a vast and varied portfolio within a single, curated environment.

Illuminating the Future: Design and Innovation on Display

The immersive, design-led environment promised by Coleto Brands is set to be a major draw at KBIS 2026. The booth will serve as a launchpad for the early and spring 2026 collections from both Kichler and Progress Lighting, offering attendees a first look at the latest trends shaping residential illumination. These new offerings are expected to align closely with the key themes dominating the design world.

A major focus will be on human-centric and wellness lighting. The industry is rapidly moving beyond basic illumination to embrace technologies that support well-being, such as tunable white LEDs that can adjust color temperature to mimic natural daylight patterns. This technology, sometimes referred to as circadian-inspired lighting, helps regulate the body's internal clock, potentially improving focus during the day and promoting better sleep at night. Visitors can expect to see fixtures that incorporate this advanced functionality into aesthetically pleasing designs.

Personalization will also be a central theme. The era of relying solely on recessed can lights is giving way to more sophisticated, layered lighting schemes. The new collections will likely emphasize this with a diverse range of fixtures—including sculptural pendants, elegant wall sconces, and statement chandeliers—that allow designers and homeowners to craft unique and atmospheric interiors. These pieces are increasingly viewed not just as functional objects, but as jewelry for the room, capable of defining a space's character.

Materiality and form are another critical area of innovation. The latest design directions point towards a preference for natural and honest materials, fluid lines, and organic, sculptural shapes. Influences from Art Deco, with its opulent materials like gold, crystal, and blackened brass, are also making a comeback in luxury lighting. Coleto Brands is expected to showcase fixtures that reflect these trends, demonstrating a commitment to craftsmanship and enduring design.

Reshaping the Market Landscape

Coleto Brands' unified strategy at KBIS is poised to send ripples throughout the competitive lighting industry. By presenting a single, powerful front, the company is challenging the traditional model of distinct brand representation and creating a more formidable market presence. This move could pressure competitors to re-evaluate their own go-to-market strategies, potentially accelerating the trend of brand consolidation.

For distributors, builders, and designers, the integrated booth offers a tangible benefit: efficiency. Having the ability to source a wide array of lighting solutions—from decorative interior fixtures and ceiling fans to landscape and architectural lighting—from a single point of contact simplifies logistics and project management. This customer-focused approach, as highlighted in the company's announcement, is a key driver behind the strategic shift. It acknowledges that for trade professionals, time and ease of business are as valuable as product quality and design.

The timing of this debut is also significant. KBIS 2026 is set against a backdrop of intense innovation, with major themes including smart home integration, sustainability, and personalized wellness environments. By showcasing how its lighting solutions fit into these broader trends, Coleto Brands is positioning Kichler and Progress Lighting not just as suppliers of fixtures, but as integral partners in creating the connected, healthy, and beautiful homes of the future. The narrative journey planned for the booth will guide visitors through this vision, demonstrating how thoughtful lighting choices can fundamentally shape the way people live, connect, and engage within their spaces.

As thousands of industry professionals descend on Orlando, the Coleto Brands booth will be a focal point for those looking to understand the future of residential lighting. The success of this unified debut could set a new benchmark for how large brand portfolios are presented to the market, emphasizing synergy and customer experience over individual brand promotion. This intentional, aligned strategy marks a new chapter for the two storied brands and their parent company.