Capital Lighting and Supply, Cooper Electric Supply Co., and Stuart C. Irby Co., win prestigious Best of the Best Awards for Marketing Excellence.
TED Magazine marketing awards for best marketing programs during 2008

Philadelphia, PA – August 25, 2009. Capital Lighting and Supply, Cooper Electric Supply, and Stuart C. Irby Co.; all divisions of Sonepar USA, have been given the prestigious Best of the Best Marketing Awards for a distributor with sales in excess of $200 million during the annual NAED “Best of the Best” Marketing Awards Competition luncheon held August 12, 2009.

This is an incredible achievement for our subsidiaries to have competed in various marketing categories against all the major players in the electrical distribution industry and walk away with three of our distributors winning the awards. This demonstrates their commitment and excellence to marketing efforts and programs.

• Stuart C. Irby Company - "Irby Circuit" Magazine
• Capital Lighting & Supply - "Capital NOW" Magazine
• Capital Lighting & Supply - Extreme Makeover: Ridgley/Motley
• Cooper Electric Supply - All Your Purchases EARN You Points
• Capital Lighting & Supply, honorable mention - Great Escapes

The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) is a national organization that thousands of distributors are a member of, which supports growth and professionalism in the industry. The Electrical Distributor Magazine (TED), NAED’s publication, holds an annual competition focusing on marketing campaigns in the electrical industry. With over 300 entries submitted this year, we are excited to congratulate our subsidiary companies - Cooper Electric Supply, Irby Electric and Capital Lighting & Supply for being on the winning list of the “Best of the Best” marketing awards!

Publications Winners
Stuart C. Irby Company - "Irby Circuit" Magazine
The Irby Circuit is published twice a year and includes timely, relevant feature articles that are targeted to our major segment customers. The purpose is provide customers with information about services the Irby and its suppliers offer as well as current industry news, events, new products, and changes to industry codes. With the Irby Circuit we are able to inform our customers of the value-added products and services that both Irby and our key vendors supply. In addition to distributing approximately 15,000 print copies, an additional 7,500 electronic copies were sent via email.

Publications Winners
Capital Lighting & Supply - "Capital NOW" Magazine
2008 marked the third year for Capital Now Magazine winning the Best of the Best award. This has become one of the two cornerstones of the CLS communications program, the other being CTV our primary digital communication vehicle. These are part of a coordinated total program. Capital Now consists of 4 elements and addresses three overall targets, those being customers, employees, and manufacturers.

Public Relations/Community Outreach Winners
Capital Lighting & Supply - Extreme Makeover: Ridgley/Motley
Capital Lighting & Supply participates in dozens of programs requiring donations of materials, expertise, logistical support and sometimes labor every year. These activities are key components to fulfilling our mission to be the “Electrical Distributor of Choice”. To the CLS Team this goes far beyond products and price. It means that our success comes from the local communities our customers live in and that we have an obligation to give back to those communities.

Events Winners
Cooper Electric Supply - All Your Purchases EARN You Points
Cooper’s marketing initiatives have played a direct role in increasing new business development, as well as sustainability of ongoing business. The department focuses on the company’s overall objectives through effective marketing and communications initiatives. As a result, marketing continues to successfully launch and execute many programs throughout the company. All of the company’s efforts put forth resulted in this award.

Honorable Mention: Integrated Promotional Campaign Winners
Capital Lighting & Supply - Great Escapes

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About Capital Lighting & Supply
Capital Lighting & Supply provides electrical products, lighting, and services to contractors, builders, and end-users in the Mid-Atlantic States. Our mission is to be the electrical distributor of choice for our customers, employees, and suppliers. We service our customers from 21 locations throughout Maryland and Virginia and from our new 220,000 square foot headquarters and CDC in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. For more information, please visit Capital Lighting & Supply’s website at www.capitallighting.com

About Cooper Electric Supply Co.
For over 40 years, Cooper Electric has provided the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania markets with expert electrical supply and service capabilities. Established in 1961 as a family-owned business, Cooper Electric, a Sonepar USA company, is a full-line, single source wholesaler of electrical supplies.

Headquartered in Tinton Falls, NJ, Cooper Electric has over 25 locations, 500 employees strong, and is supported by Distribution Centers throughout the tri-state area. For more information please visit Cooper Electric’s website at www.cooper-electric.com or please call us at 732‑747-2233.

About Stuart C. Irby Co.
Stuart C. Irby Company was founded in 1926 and is based in Jackson, Mississippi with 875 employees in 58 locations in 21 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas). To find out more, go to www.irby.com.

About Sonepar USA
Sonepar USA is made up of the finest electrical supply distributors in the United States. The company has over 4,600 associates in 12 companies operating more than 253 branches in 35 states. In 2008, Sonepar USA achieved revenues of $3.3 billion. It is a member of the Sonepar group - the world's largest privately held electrical distributor. Worldwide, Sonepar employs over 34,000 employees, with 2,050 branch locations and estimated annual 2008 sales of $16 billion pro forma.

Contact: Maria Venezia
SONEPAR USA COMMUNICATIONS
510 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
maria.venezia@sonepar-us.com