The R.L. Vanstory Company Lighting and Electrical Products lighting agency was founded January 1, 1977 by Richard L. Vanstory, Sr. Prior to starting the agency, Richard Vanstory spent two years as a salesman for the Carnation Company; two years with Lightolier covering central and eastern North Carolina, as well as western Virginia; and one year as a salesman for the S.L. Bagby Co. in central North Carolina.
The first manufacturer to be represented by the R.L. Vanstory Company was Lithonia Lighting – North America’s largest manufacturer of lighting equipment for commercial, industrial, outdoor and residential applications. At age 26, Richard Vanstory was the youngest principal of an agency for Lithonia Lighting in the company’s history. The territory managed by the agency included the 13 counties of north central North Carolina, with the office located in Greensboro. Richard was the only employee for the first year. He added additional personnel as the market and company grew.
Over the next quarter of a century, the R.L. Vanstory Company grew to be respected as the leading Lighting Agency in the Piedmont North Carolina market, representing the top lighting manufacturers in the industry. Today the agency has nine full-time sales, marketing and customer service personnel.
In 1981, the principals of R.L. Vanstory Company, S.L. Bagby Co. and K.B. Stephens & Assoc. formed an alliance to be known as the Associated Carolina Representatives (The ACR Group). This alliance would serve to strengthen the effectiveness of each agency independently, creating a unified base of representation for all manufacturers represented by the group and providing statewide coverage. There is no financial tie between the three independent group members and each agency operates under separate contract with all its manufacturers. The ACR Group acts as a singular agency group to provide complete coverage in its respective market, enabling each of the three group members to perform all the required marketing, sales and customer service responsibilities for its manufacturers.
Since the inception of the RL Vanstory Company agency in 1977, we have grown to become a significant influence in the lighting industry for central North Carolina. The alliance with the BAGBY COMPANY for western North Carolina, and the KB STEPHENS COMPANY in eastern North Carolina as the ACR group has allowed the RL Vanstory Company to grow and service it’s customer base and specification community with premium manufacturers of Lighting, Electrical Products, and Control Systems.
