Coronet LED’s JR Krauza Talks Strategy, Innovation, and the Power of Design in EdisonReport’s C-Suite Series
During LEDucation 2025, EdisonReport launched its 2025 C-Suite Series—a focused set of interviews with lighting industry leaders designed to provide insight into company strategy, market trends, and product innovation. In one of the first segments, Editor Randy Reid sat down with JR Krauza, a longtime industry veteran and Vice President, Product at Coronet LED.
The interview occurred at LEDucation’s New York Hilton Midtown venue.
Staying Ahead in a Volatile Market
JR spoke candidly about the unpredictability of today’s business climate—especially the tariff situation. “We wake up every morning checking social media to see if there’s a new tariff,” he said. Fortunately, Coronet LED’s U.S.-based manufacturing has helped minimize disruptions. “We’ve got over 400 union workers building fixtures here in the States, and most of our supply chain is domestic.”
To further insulate the company from volatility, Coronet LED has strategically stockpiled key components. “We’ve done this before—we learned from COVID. And that inventory buffer gives us a serious advantage.”
At this time, Coronet LED is not planning any price increases until at least the fall.
Domestic Manufacturing as a Competitive Edge
Reid noted that Coronet LED, which relies on union labor in the U.S., has traditionally been at a cost disadvantage to overseas manufacturers. But that tide may be shifting.
“Now that tariffs are hitting imported fixtures more directly, we’re in a strong position,” Krauza explained. “Custom linear products like ours are hard to import anyway, and with domestic production, we can respond faster and more accurately.”
Lalina: A Must-See Fixture
The conversation turned to Coronet LED’s latest innovation: the Lalina, a curved cove lighting system that ships straight and is shaped on-site.
“Three years ago, curved coves were rare. Now they’re on nearly every project,” JR said, “What makes Lalina special is that it adapts in the field, which solves one of the biggest issues contractors face—variable site dimensions.”
Available in wall-wash and uplight versions, Lalina was selected by an EdisonReport judging committee as a “Top 10 Must-See” product at the show.
Expanding Into Downlights
Coronet LED is also moving into new territory with the launch of a 3-inch downlight line. “It’s something people wouldn’t expect from us,” JR admitted. “But we started with a blank page, which let us build the product the right way.”
This expansion signals Coronet LED’s willingness to push beyond its traditional strengths while maintaining the high standards that have made the company a go-to for specifiers.
A Lighting Designer at Heart
JR, who spent 13 years as a lighting designer, closed the interview by emphasizing the importance of design thinking in product development.
“You only see reflected light. It’s not just about the wall covering—it’s how the light hits it that matters,” he said. “Lighting designers bring that vision. They make the entire project look better.”
Editor’s Note:
The C-Suite Series is part of EdisonReport’s ongoing mission to provide insight from the top minds in lighting. For more interviews from LEDucation 2025 and beyond, visit our C-Suite Playlist.