Customer Spotlight: Creative Lighting's 98-Year Legacy Shines at Auction

After illuminating homes and businesses across St. Paul for nearly a century, Creative Lighting closed its doors in September of 2024. The closure of this 98-year-old establishment marked the end of an era, but also presented Grafe Auction with the opportunity to honor their legacy through two significant auctions: one for their showroom and another for their warehouse location.

A Legacy of Light

Founded in 1926, Creative Lighting grew to become more than just a lighting retailer - it was a cornerstone of the St. Paul community. When the decision was made to close their doors, the challenge was clear: how to transition nearly a century's worth of inventory while respecting the company's heritage and reputation for quality.

The Auction Challenge

The project presented unique complexities due to its dual locations and diverse inventory types, as well as a short turnaround time for cataloging. The showroom housed premium lighting fixtures and designer pieces, while the warehouse contained commercial equipment and bulk inventory. This required distinct marketing strategies and careful planning to reach the right buyers for each location.

Auction Insights: The Art of Cataloging

Grafe Auction

By the Numbers

Managing the liquidation of a 98-year-old business required careful planning and execution across two distinct locations. The participation levels and final results highlight the significance of Creative Lighting's presence in the community and the strong market for quality lighting and commercial equipment. Here's a summary of the results:

Showroom Auction

The showroom auction was the first of the two auctions, and had substantially more lots than the warehouse auction. Walking into Creative Lighting, fixtures covered the ceilings and walls, which meant there was a large selection to choose from. Lots ranged from single lighting displays to grouped sets of lighting options, furniture, staging decor, and more. Check out these details:

• 2,564 lots
• 904 bidders
• 170,570 total bids
• Average lot price: $102.70
• Highest single item: $3,500 (Crystal chandelier)

Warehouse Auction

The warehouse auction took place a couple of weeks after the showroom auction and was much different in scale as well as type of items sold. Lots consisted of boxes and pallets of new lighting fixtures at a larger scale than the showroom. Average lot prices were higher, likely due to the number of items per lot (ie. boxes of multiple lighting fixtures vs. single fixtures), plus the type of items available, like the forklift at the warehouse auction. Here are the numbers:

• 707 lots
• 427 bidders
• 44,321 total bids
• Average lot price: $203.35
• Highest single item: $10,000 (Raymond EASI forklift)

The impressive participation across both auctions - with over 214,000 combined bids from more than 1,300 registered bidders - demonstrates the substantial interest in acquiring pieces from this historic St. Paul establishment.

Notable Sales and Market Insights

Premium Lighting

The showroom auction demonstrated strong demand for high-end fixtures:

• Crystal chandeliers commanded top prices up to $3,500
• A gold finish chandelier achieved $2,000
• Designer pieces like the Louie Trejo floor lamp brought $1,200
• Contemporary linear fixtures consistently sold in the $700-1,000 range

Commercial Equipment

The warehouse auction was unique because so much of the inventory was in boxes, so while brand new, it wasn't as easy to view as the showroom. The auction also revealed robust interest in industrial assets:

• Material handling equipment topped the sales with the Raymond forklift
• Warehouse racking systems generated approximately $20,000 across multiple lots
• Premium brand lighting fixtures maintained strong values:
  • Visual Comfort Bonnington chandelier: $1,300
  • Visual Comfort lantern: $850
  • Chapman and Myers outdoor fixtures: $400+

Market Analysis

Several key patterns emerged across both auctions:

Brand Value

• Premium lighting brands consistently commanded higher prices
• Well-maintained commercial equipment retained strong value
• Designer associations positively impacted pricing

Buyer Behavior

• The showroom auction generated higher participation, with 904 bidders compared to 427 at the warehouse auction, while maintaining strong competitive bidding across all price points.
• The warehouse auction had particularly strong competition for material handling equipment and bulk lot items.
• There was strong competitive bidding across both locations, with over 214,000 combined bids placed

Price Point Distribution

• The warehouse maintained higher average for lot prices despite fewer lots.
• The showroom generated higher individual item peaks.
• Both locations showed strong mid-range performance.

Legacy Impact

The successful completion of these auctions represented more than just a business liquidation - it provided an opportunity for the community to own a piece of St. Paul history. The strong participation and competitive bidding demonstrated both the practical value of the assets and the emotional connection many felt to Creative Lighting.

Comments from their closing announcement captured this sentiment: "For nearly a century, we've had the privilege of lighting homes, businesses, and lives, and it has been an honor to serve such a loyal and supportive community." (Bring Me the News)

Looking Forward

These auctions provided valuable insights into the current market for both commercial and residential lighting assets. The strong performance across multiple categories and price points suggests ongoing demand for quality equipment and fixtures, whether for practical commercial applications or high-end residential installations.

For businesses facing similar transitions, Creative Lighting's auction success demonstrates how a well-executed liquidation strategy can honor a company's legacy while maximizing asset value. Through careful planning, targeted marketing, and professional execution, these auctions achieved optimal results while respecting the heritage of a beloved local institution.

For more information about how Grafe Auction can help with your business transition, contact our team of experts today. Let us help you illuminate the path forward for your assets.