Family lighting showroom shines after 40 years in Yuma

A local-business feature aired Jan. 12 on KAWC’s What’s Up Yuma? Radio, putting a spotlight on Gloria DeAnda and her daughter Giovanni, co-owners of Arizona Lighting Company. The roughly 30-minute interview traced four decades of the family-run showroom, how services and displays have changed, and why customers keep coming back rather than turning to big-box alternatives.

The interview details how a 40-year tenure in a local retail trade builds institutional knowledge that a national chain cannot easily replicate. The DeAndas described evolving showrooms and service offerings that reflect Yuma’s housing stock and climate needs, from shade and glare considerations to fixture durability in desert conditions. The segment emphasized long-term customer relationships: repeat business, contractor referrals, and service follow-up that together create value beyond point-of-sale pricing.

For Yuma households and small contractors, the practical takeaway is straightforward. A local lighting showroom can provide tailored recommendations, immediate parts or repairs, and hands-on demonstrations that reduce installation errors and callbacks. That matters for remodel projects, rental-property turnover, and new-home builds, where time saved and fewer rework hours translate into lower total project costs even if sticker prices sometimes run higher than big-box promotions.

There are broader market implications for Yuma’s retail landscape. Family-owned specialty stores like Arizona Lighting Company contribute to local employment, circulation of dollars in the county economy, and preservation of trades knowledge. They also face competitive pressure from larger retailers that use scale to undercut margins. In this environment, personalized service, product expertise, and a reputation earned over decades are key defensive assets for independents.

On policy and community planning, sustaining such businesses supports local economic resilience. City procurement that favors local vendors for municipal retrofits, targeted small-business assistance, and streamlined permitting for retail remodels all help preserve the options Yuma residents value. For contractors, maintaining supplier relationships with local showrooms can improve lead times and warranty coordination.

The podcast page for the episode includes audio links and a brief episode description for anyone who wants the full conversation. Our two cents? Visit the showroom, bring your contractor and project specs, and ask about warranties and on-site support before you buy. Investing a little time with a local specialist can save days and dollars on installation—and keep more of those dollars working in Yuma.