The Magnolia Lighting in Hernando, Miss, who in Miss.
Hernando, Miss. – Magnolia Lighting received an Arts Award last month in the “Lighting Showroom, East/Atlantic Region” category. Magnolia Lighting in family ownership has been located since 1984 and runs its main exhibition area in Hernando, Miss., As well as three other business in the state in Tupelo, Oxford and Ridgeland. The business covers the northern half of Mississippi, and Hernando's location pulls at least half of its business from Memphis, Tennessee, both from the east of Arkansas.
The main customer is the building contractor. It also sells Home Decor, and its bestseller categories are lamps and art in this regard.
Pam Whitfield has been involved in Magnolia Lighting, her husband's family business, when it was known as Magnolia Lighting & Electric Supply.
We spoke to Whitfield about the company's plans for 2025.
What is the business going?
We are still in a very strong new development area in all shops except Tupelo. That drives the business. With regard to the accessories for the house, we try to aim the new homeowner who takes off lights and hope that they will come back for accents.
In 2008 we decided to redirect retail and to aim for retail instead of being dependent on new buildings. We have maintained this over the years through social media and television advertising. This drives the retail side. We had a great year [in 2024.] This is currently not exactly common in the lighting industry.
What are your prospects for this year?
The immigration agreement [being discussed in Washington] is large for the construction. We are concerned about tariffs. It injured us in 2017, but they became part of the norm. It affects us, but we are not afraid of it because it is global. Nobody in the industry is immune. Convincing our builders to increase their budget is the greater challenge that we have.
Are you trying something new this year?
Nothing else for this year. I don't know if this is the time to venture into new ones. We have tried things in the past, more in retail. We will remain the course.
In the industry, some work in a more conservative mode, and I wish you [manufacturers] would open inventory. We are a stocking exhibition room that supported us through Covid. I don't have the feeling that someone gets out on a link or does something exciting.
What is the trend?
We bring some bronze, softer surfaces back.
We saw so much gold [at the recent show]What we love because it makes our shop so beautiful, but I expected a trend of it. Not in the lighting, [though]. In Home Decor, my buyer saw a trend of so much gold away.