Years before Metairie-based Oracle Lighting was a global brand for aftermarket car and truck accessories, the company’s founder, Justin Hartenstein, was designing accessories for his own vehicle from his dorm room at the University of New Orleans, where he was an undergrad.
The year was 1999, the internet was in its infancy, and Hartenstein was posting pictures of his early creations to an eBay store and online message boards dedicated to the automotive community. The products, including custom car lights, began to gain a following among drivers keen to customize their vehicles.
“People really liked the stuff, and I didn’t really have any intention of making it into a business,” Hartenstein said. “I basically started building some very niche car parts and then just expanded out from there.”…