Designplan’s Multi-Brand Strategy Thrives at Euroluce
While visiting Euroluce 2025, I sat down with Richard Klapper of Designplan Lighting, whose company is making waves by balancing domestic production with curated European imports. With a portfolio of 14 brands—ten of which are Italian—Richard has developed a unique approach to offering high-quality architectural lighting to the U.S. market.
Designplan Lighting at Euroluce
Six of Richard’s brands exhibited on-site at the show, including Renzo Serafini and L&L Luce&Light. In addition, another brand was exhibiting in town. “From a design perspective, the Italians are still the best,” Richard noted. His lineup also includes manufacturers from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK.
Designplan’s U.S. operation, based in New Jersey, continues to produce fixtures under its own name. “We assemble in New Jersey using parts we source globally. We own the tooling for extrusions and die casting, but we bring in the components, test everything 100%, and ship from the U.S.,” Richard said.
Company Origins and Growth Strategy
Founded in 1987 as a joint venture with Designplan UK, the U.S. arm became fully independent about 12 years ago. Today, around half of Designplan’s offerings are made domestically, with the other half coming from European partners. Richard personally scouts new brands, often discovering them at shows like Light + Building or via LinkedIn. “I approach companies I believe have U.S. potential. We get them certified and begin importing.”
L&L Luce&Light: A Case Study in Persistence
A prime example is L&L Luce&Light. Klapper first approached the brand at Light + Building, only to be told they weren’t ready for the U.S. Six months later, still not ready. But eventually, a new export manager—whom Klapper knew—reached out. Today, L&L is Designplan’s largest and most successful partner.
Addressing Tariffs with Strategy
Tariffs are a growing concern for the entire industry, but Richard is taking a measured approach. “We’ve raised prices to cover half the tariff. We’re absorbing the other half. Everyone’s in the same boat, and our products aren’t comparable to domestic commodity offerings,” he said. Designplan recently implemented another price increase specifically for products with Chinese-made drivers. “Most of our fixtures include drivers, so we had no choice.”
Looking Ahead
Despite market disruptions, Richard remains optimistic. His relationships with reps like SDA Lighting & Controls have spanned nearly two decades, and his strategy of balancing in-house assembly with handpicked European design continues to pay off.