Action Lighting and Birddog Lighting Join Forces

We're excited to share an important update: Action Lighting and Birddog Lighting have joined forces. On Aug. 22, 2026, Peter Carlson purchased Birddog Lighting from longtime owner Josh Knoedler, bringing together two Montana-based businesses with complementary strengths and more than six decades of combined company history.

For Action Lighting customers, this new relationship means access to an even broader range of lighting products and practical expertise. It also gives both companies the opportunity to support one another behind the scenes while continuing to serve customers through the brands they already know.

A Natural Fit Between Two Montana Lighting Specialists

Action Lighting has served professional lighting markets since 1987. Our work is especially focused on commercial Christmas light installers, amusement and carnival lighting, signs, architectural applications, and custom commercial projects. We also provide hands-on installer training that covers design, product knowledge, installation, electrical planning, safety, estimating and business operations.

Birddog Lighting has built a different but highly complementary specialty since 2002. The company is known for decorative and linear lighting, including LED rope lights, strip lights, neon-style products, exclusive lighted motifs, seasonal LED displays, and the accessories needed to complete an installation. Birddog also custom-cuts rope lights, strip lights and other linear lighting so customers can order project-ready lengths without the added hassle of cutting and assembling.

The fit is straightforward: Action brings deep experience in professional, amusement and large commercial applications, while Birddog adds exceptional depth in flexible linear lighting, decorative products, custom-cut services and e-commerce. Together, the two companies can address a wider range of lighting needs without losing the specialized knowledge that made each brand successful.

What Action Lighting Customers Gain

As the companies begin working together, Action Lighting customers will benefit from:

• A broader selection of LED rope lights, strip lights and neon-style linear lighting.
• Access to custom-cut, project-ready lighting tailored to the customer’s specific needs.
• More decorative options, including exclusive lighted motifs and seasonal products.
• Additional product knowledge and support for residential, retail, hospitality and smaller projects.
• The combined perspective of two experienced Montana lighting businesses serving customers nationwide.

"Action Lighting and Birddog Lighting were built in Montana around the same basic idea: know the products, stand behind them and help customers bring their projects to life," said Peter Carlson, owner of Action Lighting and Birddog Lighting. "By joining forces, we can preserve what customers value about each company while offering a broader product selection and a deeper bench of practical lighting experience."

Two Established Brands, Broader Capabilities

Action Lighting and Birddog Lighting will continue to operate under their established names and websites. This is not about making two distinct businesses look the same. It is about allowing each brand to stay focused on what it does best while creating opportunities to share product knowledge, sourcing strength, inventory resources, training capabilities and project experience.

Action customers may come for commercial Christmas products and training, then turn to Birddog for custom-cut linear lighting or decorative products. Customers planning amusement, architectural or signage projects can draw on Action's custom capabilities. The connection makes it easier to find the right solution when a project crosses traditional product categories.

Built in Montana, Serving Customers Everywhere

The transaction keeps Birddog under Montana-based ownership. Carlson and Knoedler are longtime Montana residents, and both businesses grew from Gallatin Valley roots to serve customers across the country and beyond.

We're proud of those Montana roots, and we're excited about what comes next. Continue exploring professional and commercial lighting at ActionLighting.com, and visit BirddogLighting.com to see the decorative, linear and custom-cut capabilities now available through our extended lighting family.