No Easy Answers for OSRAM SYLVANIA’s LIGHTFAIR Attendees.

Many, many source companies sell complete fixtures, and the old model of source companies selling components to only OEMs and Distributors is out the door. 


Most source companies will avoid this fixture discussion at all cost, especially at LIGHTFAIR.  Typically, these source companies will always maintain that they never sell fixtures  “…except only to a few small customers here and there… and only because those customers require to purchase direct….and only on certain days of the week….it is really quite rare…blah, blah, blah.”

Not OSRAM SYLVANIA.  

At LIGHTFAIR, they were wide open as they showed LED Street and Area Luminaires which they sell direct to electrical distributors.  They told your humble editor the distributor price and made no attempt to hide the fact that they sell luminaires. Yet when it came to their IPO, it was a different story.

Easy Question:  “Should I buy stock in the new lighting company, once it is spun off? 

Answer.  “No comment.”

Easy Question:  “When will the spinoff occur?”

Answer:  “No comment.” 

Easy Question:  “Will the spinoff be called SYLVANIA in all caps, or Sylvania in lower case, or will it be Osram SYLVANIA in a bold combination of lower case and all caps?”

 Answer:  “No comment.” 

Easy Question:  Is ‘No comment’ your answer or did someone at OSRAM SYLVANIA instruct all of the LIGHTFAIR attendees to say ‘No comment?’

Answer:  “No comment.”

Hard Question:  “Why do you sell luminaires and aren’t you competing against your customers?” 

Answer:  “We have to sell fixtures to survive.   Philips sells fixtures. GE has sold fixtures forever. We have been waving the white flag, but no one cared. Yes, we are selling fixtures direct to electrical distributors, but our OEM customers understand.“