Prolight celebrating three decades in the spotlight

It looked more like an Oscars after-party than a corporate birthday celebration, but then Prolight Concepts Group has spent three decades helping to bring events, productions and TV studios to life.

‘Party at the Point’ showed the business really knows how to put on a show as the Colne-based company celebrated its 30th anniversary in style.

More than 400 customers, suppliers and partners joined staff and their families for the celebration, with plenty of food and drink on offer.

The day was an opportunity for companies that have been on Prolight’s journey to share their latest innovations in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. A full stage setup was built and illuminated to show some of the incredible products available. ‘Ultra 90s Vs 2000s’ provided live entertainment on stage and a themed DJ set ran all day and into the evening to keep everybody entertained.

Managing director Andrew Jeffrey said: “It was an amazing event, everyone had a great time. I am in disbelief how far people travelled to celebrate with us. People were asking if we would do it again next year, so we are considering having a yearly customer and supplier appreciation party - but not quite on the same scale as our big birthday bash.”

From its Edison Point HQ and warehouse, nestled between the busy commercial units along Regent Street and the picturesque Colne Water, Prolight supplies lighting and audio equipment, truss systems and accessories.

Officially opened in 1996, Prolight’s origins stretch back even further, to when Andrew opened his own DJ supply company in Bolton in 1989. From small beginnings selling equipment to local DJs, Andrew has steadily built what is now a global brand.

The growth of the business took Andrew to Europe in search of equipment that was unavailable in the UK. It didn’t take long for other DJ stores to take note and start looking for the items Andrew was importing and wanting to purchase from him.

He said: “DJs being DJs, they were going to other stores in the area trying to find these products cheaper, and eventually I was asked if I had considered supplying trade. It didn’t take long for the DJ store in Bolton to become completely full, and that’s when I set up Prolight as a trade only supplier, originally in Bury.

“We started by importing products from a Polish company called Disco Tech that were not available anywhere else. All those items were amazingly successful and that led me to start expanding the range we had available.”

The rise of manufacturers in the Far East led Andrew to Taiwan and later China, where more and more products were being produced that people had never seen before and were previously unavailable in the UK.

The growth of the firm was clear for all to see when, after six years in Bury, Prolight traded its 6,000 square-foot site for a new 36,000 square-foot base in Darwen.

Andrew said: “I remember standing in that building in Darwen with my wife, Susanne, wondering how on earth were we ever going to fill it. I thought we were going to have to rent some of the space out. Not only did we fill it, but six years later we needed to find even bigger premises and we moved again, this time to Blackburn.”

The growth didn’t stop there. Edison Point is a 68,000 square foot warehouse on a 10-acre site which provides a workplace for 45 people. The move to Colne was a major milestone for Andrew and Prolight.

He said: “I will never forget the moment when we came to look at the site here and we stood looking at 10 acres, this enormous building set in its own grounds surrounded by trees and looking towards Pendle Hill thinking ‘this could be our new home’.

“The fact there was so much land surrounding the warehouse eliminated the need for us to move again as we could just add further buildings when required. It finally meant I didn’t have to keep moving every six or seven years. It really was a watershed moment for us. At the time, I couldn’t believe just how far we had come.”

Prolight's growth isn't just evident in the size of its premises. The business now has a whole range of its own branded products, many designed by its in-house R&D team.

Over time, new markets were found and Prolight began to supply event companies across the world.

Andrew said: “For a good number of years we just supplied products into DJ stores, music stores and installers where we grew at a significant rate. With our innovations and the success we had we were well ahead of anybody else in the industry at that time.

“When we started to see a decline in bars and entertainment venues we began investing in other markets to see where our brands could take us.”

Those new markets have seen the company support some notable venues and events, including the NHS, Eden Project, Tate Britain, BBC’s The Chase and The One Show, and even pop star Anastacia’s latest tour to name but a few.

Andrew said: “In the early days, when we went to industry trade shows, we saw them as a sales outlet and an opportunity to build up our customer base. Today, as we work with most of the companies in the industry, we see these shows as networking opportunities.

“We are not there to sell products; we are there to showcase new items and to connect with people we may not have seen for a while and share what’s up and coming.”

Twelve years ago, aged 18, Andrew’s son Bradley joined the company and has worked in every department, giving him a real education into how Prolight operates.

Bradley is now group operations director and is celebrating his 30th birthday in the same year as the company marks its own milestone anniversary. Andrew sees the future of the business very much in his son’s hands.

He said: “I have really enjoyed seeing Bradley develop. He has a great understanding of what goes on here as I look to hand the business over to him and continue to build on its success for the next 30 years.”

Bradley said: “Nothing would give me more pride than to continue the journey my dad started all those years ago. We see each other every day, not just because we are father and son, but also because we work very closely together. That relationship isn’t just about family, there’s banter, there’s hard work, and being a family business makes it so much more rewarding to see the company continue to grow.”

But what is the future of Prolight? Simple. More of the same.

Andrew said: “For us, it’s all about the amazing family of staff we have here and the products we design and distribute. The company is still evolving. I still genuinely love the trips out to China working with suppliers. Every week, something happens in Prolight that I wasn’t expecting to happen, and it has kept me coming back to work with a smile on my face every Monday morning.”