April 9, 2026
Shaping Light and Defining Excellence: Inside Inner Circle Distribution
FUTURETECH Featuring Inner Circle Distribution
This episode takes you inside Inner Circle Distribution, examining its growth, vision, and commitment to quality in lighting and special effects for film and entertainment. Chris and Lacy unpack the company’s values, services, and impact across North America.
1
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,760
All right, folks, welcome back
to Geezers of Gear Future Tech
2
00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:26,080
Chris here as always, and I've
got Lacey on the other mic
3
00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:27,880
today.
It's all about inner circle
4
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,280
distribution, ICD.
Honestly, I've wanted to dig
5
00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,280
into these guys for a while now.
Lacey, you remember when we
6
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,440
first saw ICD's gear making the
rounds?
7
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,760
I'm talking 2005, back when the
company was just getting started
8
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,280
waving this big flag.
Let's revolutionize lighting
9
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,400
distribution, they said.
It kind of sounded like
10
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,280
marketing fluff back then, you
know?
11
00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,520
But they ran with it, and here
we are.
12
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:55,200
Oh yeah, I totally remember
that.
13
00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,840
And like, ICD really did start
small.
14
00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,760
It's not just one of those
legend stories.
15
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,440
It was a handful of people just
obsessed with lights and getting
16
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,240
them into the right hands.
Now they're this major
17
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,280
distributor across the US and
even up into Canada.
18
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,560
I don't think anybody in the
industry missed their climb the
19
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,240
past couple decades.
Exactly.
20
00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,840
What's wild is seeing how
quickly they became a household
21
00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,920
name for dealers, production
managers, you name it.
22
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,280
You just know when a company's
doing something different,
23
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,640
right?
Yeah, that's real.
24
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,320
The fact they could keep the
personal touch of a smaller
25
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:31,600
business even as they grew kind
of sets the tone.
26
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,720
I think it's that whole shaping
light defining excellence thing
27
00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,680
they keep talking about.
Their whole approach, from what
28
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,280
I can see, is anchored in these
core values.
29
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,480
Integrity, innovation, total
customer focus.
30
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:47,720
And now sustainability is a big
one.
31
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,560
It's all over their website and
their messaging.
32
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,680
Sometimes you see stuff like
that and think, yeah, every
33
00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,080
company says those words, but
ICD actually seems to back it up
34
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,920
in how they deal with folks.
Most companies, you're on your
35
00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:06,440
own or you're at the bottom of
the pile with ICDI got a real
36
00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,880
person on the phone?
They made it happen pretty much
37
00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,520
overnight.
You just don't get that hustle
38
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,840
and directness from most big
distributors, not once they're
39
00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,880
national.
Yeah, customer centric doesn't
40
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,120
just mean having a call centre.
Sometimes it's that proper hands
41
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,720
on response.
You mentioned the sustainability
42
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,240
thing and that's one I find
particularly interesting.
43
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,960
They're not just putting out
products, they're aiming for
44
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,920
solutions that don't wreck the
environment.
45
00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,160
Sort of makes sense in 2025, but
still, not everyone's cracked
46
00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,720
that nut yet.
I might be wrong, but weren't
47
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,240
they one of the first in our
world to really push that angle?
48
00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,040
I think so.
They talk a lot about having the
49
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,960
highest ethical standards like
transparency, honesty.
50
00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,080
And what was their phrase
Leading with brilliance.
51
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,120
It's kind of ambitious, but
there's definitely a trickle
52
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:55,800
down you can feel if you've
worked with them.
53
00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,560
Plus innovation, always trying
something new, new lighting
54
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,800
technology, custom builds that
don't exist off the shelf.
55
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,240
Makes a difference in this
business honestly.
56
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,920
Exactly, it really feels like
that culture of integrity and
57
00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:12,800
innovation is what lets a
company stand out for the long
58
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,280
haul.
ICDS commitment to quality
59
00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:20,160
assurance, always improving, all
that stuff shows they're in this
60
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,360
for more than just numbers.
Let's talk about what they
61
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,640
actually do for folks, because
it's not just shipping boxes,
62
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,800
right?
They're handling full product
63
00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,640
distribution for everything from
film sets to touring shows.
64
00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,680
Plus there's the logistics and
delivery side.
65
00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,600
These guys have a whole team
that'll help choose what works
66
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,960
best for your gig, not just
whatever's sitting in a
67
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,960
warehouse.
And the Technical Support too,
68
00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,840
that's a massive part.
It's not uncommon you're mid
69
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,800
tour, something breaks or you
need a tweak and Icd's techs
70
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,920
walk you through a fix or even
organize a swap without any
71
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,640
drama.
It was actually a national roll
72
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,200
out a while back that stuck with
me.
73
00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,600
A touring show with pretty wild
scope.
74
00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,520
ICD handled the gear, the region
by region logistics, and still
75
00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,400
managed custom solutions on top.
No delays, no finger pointing,
76
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,600
it just worked and you could
tell they'd planned for those
77
00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:16,279
bumps in the road ahead of time.
That level of customization is
78
00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,560
where they seriously shine.
And everyone keeps asking what's
79
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,880
actually the in demand lighting
now.
80
00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,240
I mean, the gear obsession never
goes away right?
81
00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,560
From what I hear, it's all about
high quality LED fixtures,
82
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:34,440
robust weather resistant gear,
and layered effects.
83
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:39,000
ICD always seems one step ahead,
sourcing those new fixtures and
84
00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,080
offering stuff that's actually
needed on a production, not just
85
00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,480
the latest shiny toy that'll
break in transit.
86
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,720
It's that same story staying at
the forefront by listening to
87
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,680
what the industry is screaming
for, adapting, delivering actual
88
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,000
value, supporting it all along
the way.
89
00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,800
They keep evolving, which is the
theme we keep finding every
90
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,560
week, isn't it?
And that kind of wraps us back
91
00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,040
around.
ICDS Impact isn't just about
92
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,840
selling products, but shaping
the way the whole production
93
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:08,680
world tackles lighting and
effects.
94
00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,280
Couldn't have said it better.
All right, that's all for this
95
00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:14,960
one.
Thanks for hanging out, Chris.
96
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,720
Always fun chatting.
We'll catch everyone again next
97
00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,960
week with more from the world of
live events and the tech
98
00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:21,560
changing the scene.
Take care.
99
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,440
Cheers Laci, have a good one.
See everyone next time, bye for
100
00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:44,840
now.
Music to your ears.
101
00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,920
Hey, hey, hey.
Let's go.
102
00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:53,640
New gear vibes, new tech jive.
Gearheads unite.
103
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,360
We keep it live.
Oh yeah, come on.
104
00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:58,480
The skier.
The skier.
105
00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,720
We got it here.
Got it here.
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,760
All right, folks, welcome back
to Geezers of Gear Future Tech
2
00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:26,080
Chris here as always, and I've
got Lacey on the other mic
3
00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:27,880
today.
It's all about inner circle
4
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,280
distribution, ICD.
Honestly, I've wanted to dig
5
00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,280
into these guys for a while now.
Lacey, you remember when we
6
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,440
first saw ICD's gear making the
rounds?
7
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,760
I'm talking 2005, back when the
company was just getting started
8
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,280
waving this big flag.
Let's revolutionize lighting
9
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,400
distribution, they said.
It kind of sounded like
10
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,280
marketing fluff back then, you
know?
11
00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,520
But they ran with it, and here
we are.
12
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:55,200
Oh yeah, I totally remember
that.
13
00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,840
And like, ICD really did start
small.
14
00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,760
It's not just one of those
legend stories.
15
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,440
It was a handful of people just
obsessed with lights and getting
16
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,240
them into the right hands.
Now they're this major
17
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,280
distributor across the US and
even up into Canada.
18
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,560
I don't think anybody in the
industry missed their climb the
19
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,240
past couple decades.
Exactly.
20
00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,840
What's wild is seeing how
quickly they became a household
21
00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,920
name for dealers, production
managers, you name it.
22
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,280
You just know when a company's
doing something different,
23
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,640
right?
Yeah, that's real.
24
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,320
The fact they could keep the
personal touch of a smaller
25
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:31,600
business even as they grew kind
of sets the tone.
26
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,720
I think it's that whole shaping
light defining excellence thing
27
00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,680
they keep talking about.
Their whole approach, from what
28
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,280
I can see, is anchored in these
core values.
29
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,480
Integrity, innovation, total
customer focus.
30
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:47,720
And now sustainability is a big
one.
31
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,560
It's all over their website and
their messaging.
32
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,680
Sometimes you see stuff like
that and think, yeah, every
33
00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,080
company says those words, but
ICD actually seems to back it up
34
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,920
in how they deal with folks.
Most companies, you're on your
35
00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:06,440
own or you're at the bottom of
the pile with ICDI got a real
36
00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,880
person on the phone?
They made it happen pretty much
37
00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,520
overnight.
You just don't get that hustle
38
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,840
and directness from most big
distributors, not once they're
39
00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,880
national.
Yeah, customer centric doesn't
40
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,120
just mean having a call centre.
Sometimes it's that proper hands
41
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,720
on response.
You mentioned the sustainability
42
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,240
thing and that's one I find
particularly interesting.
43
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,960
They're not just putting out
products, they're aiming for
44
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,920
solutions that don't wreck the
environment.
45
00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,160
Sort of makes sense in 2025, but
still, not everyone's cracked
46
00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,720
that nut yet.
I might be wrong, but weren't
47
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,240
they one of the first in our
world to really push that angle?
48
00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,040
I think so.
They talk a lot about having the
49
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,960
highest ethical standards like
transparency, honesty.
50
00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,080
And what was their phrase
Leading with brilliance.
51
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,120
It's kind of ambitious, but
there's definitely a trickle
52
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:55,800
down you can feel if you've
worked with them.
53
00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,560
Plus innovation, always trying
something new, new lighting
54
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,800
technology, custom builds that
don't exist off the shelf.
55
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,240
Makes a difference in this
business honestly.
56
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,920
Exactly, it really feels like
that culture of integrity and
57
00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:12,800
innovation is what lets a
company stand out for the long
58
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,280
haul.
ICDS commitment to quality
59
00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:20,160
assurance, always improving, all
that stuff shows they're in this
60
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,360
for more than just numbers.
Let's talk about what they
61
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,640
actually do for folks, because
it's not just shipping boxes,
62
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,800
right?
They're handling full product
63
00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,640
distribution for everything from
film sets to touring shows.
64
00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,680
Plus there's the logistics and
delivery side.
65
00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,600
These guys have a whole team
that'll help choose what works
66
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,960
best for your gig, not just
whatever's sitting in a
67
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,960
warehouse.
And the Technical Support too,
68
00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,840
that's a massive part.
It's not uncommon you're mid
69
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,800
tour, something breaks or you
need a tweak and Icd's techs
70
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,920
walk you through a fix or even
organize a swap without any
71
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,640
drama.
It was actually a national roll
72
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,200
out a while back that stuck with
me.
73
00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,600
A touring show with pretty wild
scope.
74
00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,520
ICD handled the gear, the region
by region logistics, and still
75
00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,400
managed custom solutions on top.
No delays, no finger pointing,
76
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,600
it just worked and you could
tell they'd planned for those
77
00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:16,279
bumps in the road ahead of time.
That level of customization is
78
00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,560
where they seriously shine.
And everyone keeps asking what's
79
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,880
actually the in demand lighting
now.
80
00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,240
I mean, the gear obsession never
goes away right?
81
00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,560
From what I hear, it's all about
high quality LED fixtures,
82
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:34,440
robust weather resistant gear,
and layered effects.
83
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:39,000
ICD always seems one step ahead,
sourcing those new fixtures and
84
00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,080
offering stuff that's actually
needed on a production, not just
85
00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,480
the latest shiny toy that'll
break in transit.
86
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,720
It's that same story staying at
the forefront by listening to
87
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,680
what the industry is screaming
for, adapting, delivering actual
88
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,000
value, supporting it all along
the way.
89
00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,800
They keep evolving, which is the
theme we keep finding every
90
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,560
week, isn't it?
And that kind of wraps us back
91
00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,040
around.
ICDS Impact isn't just about
92
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,840
selling products, but shaping
the way the whole production
93
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:08,680
world tackles lighting and
effects.
94
00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,280
Couldn't have said it better.
All right, that's all for this
95
00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:14,960
one.
Thanks for hanging out, Chris.
96
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,720
Always fun chatting.
We'll catch everyone again next
97
00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,960
week with more from the world of
live events and the tech
98
00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:21,560
changing the scene.
Take care.
99
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,440
Cheers Laci, have a good one.
See everyone next time, bye for
100
00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:44,840
now.
Music to your ears.
101
00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,920
Hey, hey, hey.
Let's go.
102
00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:53,640
New gear vibes, new tech jive.
Gearheads unite.
103
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,360
We keep it live.
Oh yeah, come on.
104
00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:58,480
The skier.
The skier.
105
00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,720
We got it here.
Got it here.