1. Home
  3. The Comprehensive Guide to Retail Lighting Solution

The Comprehensive Guide to Retail Lighting Solution

 

  1. Key Benefits of Effective Lighting in Retail Environments

  2. Objectives

  3. Strategies for Retail Lighting

  4. Designing Your Lighting Plan

  5. Avoiding Common Mistakes

  6. Selecting the Right Solution and its Provider

  7. Product Comparison

  8. Maintenance and Upkeep

 

1. Key Benefits of Effective Lighting in Retail Environments

Creating an effective retail lighting solution is fundamental for several reasons:

  • Enhanced Shopping Experience: Proper lighting can transform a store, making it a visually appealing and comfortable place for customers to shop. It helps in creating a unique atmosphere that can elevate the customer experience.
  • Competitive Edge: In the competitive retail market, distinctive lighting can make a store stand out, attracting more foot traffic and differentiating it from competitors.
  • Increased Sales: Strategically designed lighting has been shown to influence buying behavior positively, leading to increased sales and commercial success.
  • Cost Efficiency: A well-thought-out lighting design can be more energy-efficient, reducing both initial capital outlay and long-term maintenance costs.

 

2. Objective: Enhancing Customer Attraction and Experience Through Strategic Lighting

2.1 Attracting Customers:

  • Show Window Lighting: Design captivating show windows using dynamic and eye-catching lighting. This not only attracts attention but also sets the tone for what customers can expect inside.

2.2 Highlighting Products:

  • Ensure each product is well-lit to enhance its features. Consider the use of track lighting or spotlights for this purpose.
  • Lighting for Product Discovery: Strategically place lights to guide customers through the store, discovering products as they go.

2.3 Decision-Making Areas:

  • Change Rooms and Mirrors: Utilize bright, flattering lighting in these areas to assist customers in making confident decisions.
  • Adjustable Lighting: Implement lighting that can be adjusted in intensity and color temperature to mimic different environments, helping customers visualize the product in various settings.

2.4 Enhancing Aesthetics:

  • Showroom Aesthetics: Utilize lighting to accentuate the architectural features of the showroom.
  • Mood Setting: Choose lighting temperatures and colors that complement the store's theme and create a pleasant shopping environment.

 

3. Designing Your Lighting Plan

3.1 Collaborating with Professionals:

  • Partner with an Interior Designer: Begin by consulting your interior designer. They can draft an initial lighting plan, considering the overall design and aesthetics of your retail space.
  • Expert Input: Present this plan to a specialized lighting solution provider. Their expertise in lighting can significantly enhance your plan, offering suggestions that align with the latest trends and technologies in retail lighting.

3.2 Finalizing the Plan:

  • Timely Completion: Ensure that the lighting design is finalized promptly. This is crucial as it influences the electrical layout of the store.
  • Integration with Electrical Layouts: The finalized lighting design should seamlessly integrate with your store's electrical plans. This integration is vital for efficient implementation and avoiding future redesigns or alterations.

4. Effective Retail Lighting Strategies

4.1 Contrast Lighting:

  • Focus on the Products: Implement lighting that emphasizes the products more than the empty spaces. Higher lux levels on the merchandise make them stand out, naturally attracting customers' attention.

Retail showroom with uniform lighting where nothing stands out

 

Retail showroom with contrast lighting which makes the product in a store stand out

 

4.2 High Color Rendering:

  • Enhanced Product Appearance: Use LED lights with a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) of up to 90 or 100. These lights reveal the true colours and beauty of the products, positively influencing customers' perceptions and potentially boosting sales.

 

 

Low CRI makes the product look less appealing to the customers

 

High CRI led makes the look of the merchandise more appealing to the customers by bringing out the true beauty of the product

 

4.3 Flexibility in Lighting:

  • Adapting to Changes: Retail displays often change, so your lighting should be versatile. Consider track lighting systems for their flexibility, allowing for easy adjustments to suit different displays.

4.4 Tunable Lights:

  • Customizable Illumination: For varying product types, tunable lights are ideal. They allow adjustment of light color to best showcase each product. In change rooms, this feature can help customers experience products under different lighting conditions.

 

 

4.5 Creating a Unique Experience:

  • Standing Out in the Market: In today's competitive retail landscape, creating a unique in-store experience is crucial. Effective and innovative lighting can differentiate your store from others, including online competitors, by enhancing the overall shopping atmosphere.

 

5. Common Mistakes in Retail Lighting

5.1 Improper Lighting around look Mirrors:

  • Focus on the Customer: Lights around look mirrors should illuminate the customer's face and body, not the mirror. This ensures they can accurately assess the products they're trying on.

5.2 Incorrect Placement Relative to Products:

  • Avoid Too Close Proximity: Lights placed too close to products can fail to properly highlight them. Proper distance is key for optimal illumination.

5.3 Inadequate Overhead Lighting:

  • Prevent Shadows: Lights directly overhead or behind customers can create shadows. Positioning is crucial to avoid this and enhance visibility.

5.4 Over illumination of the Showroom:

  • Quality over Quantity: Brightly lighting the entire showroom isn't always beneficial. Selective and contrasting lighting helps products stand out and can be more effective than a uniformly bright space.

5.5 Mannequin Lighting:

  • Highlighting Displays: Ensure lights focus on the front of mannequins in show windows. Incorrect positioning can result in poor visibility and presentation.

4.6 Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Functionality:

  • Product First: While aesthetics are important, the primary focus should be on lighting products effectively. Overemphasis on the design of lighting fixtures can detract from their functional purpose.

 

6. Selecting the Right Solution and its Provider

6.1 Vendor Selection:

  • Choose Expert Vendors: It's crucial to select vendors who offer lighting solutions, not just products. An experienced vendor can significantly impact the success of your store by providing the right lighting solutions that enhance sales.

6.2 Product Selection:

  • Generic Options: These are budget-friendly but have lower quality in terms of light output, CRI, and longevity. They may seem economical but can result in higher long-term costs due to increased electricity bills and maintenance.
  • Branded Products: Brands like Philips and Havells offer standard quality. They provide reliable products but may lack advanced features like  beam angle options and high CRI, which are important for retail differentiation.
  • Customized and Specialized Solutions: Providers like our company Jainsons Lights offer tailor-made solutions with a variety of fixture housings, LED chips, and control ballasts. These allow for customization according to the specific needs and budget of a retail showroom. 

 

7. Product Comparison

When selecting lighting fixtures for a retail environment, it's essential to compare different products to find what best suits your needs. This guide will assist in evaluating various aspects of lighting fixtures, ensuring you make an informed decision for your retail space.

 

7.1 The housing of Light Fixtures:

  • Aesthetics: The design and aesthetic appeal of the fixture are important for complementing your store's theme.
  • Heat Dissipation: LED technology requires effective heat dissipation. Opt for fixtures made of high-grade aluminum with sufficient surface area for longevity and higher light output.
  • Optics: Consider the quality and efficiency of light optics (lenses or reflectors). Effective optics focus light on products and increase light output. The beam angle is also crucial for the success of your lighting design.

7.2 LED Chip: Choosing the Right Light Source

When comparing LED chips, key aspects to consider include:

  • Brand: Opt for reputable brands like Bridgelux, Cree, or Lumileds to ensure quality and consistency in performance.
  • Light Output: Choose chips with high lumen efficacy for better light output and cost-effectiveness.
  • Color Rendering Index (CRI): While 70-80 CRI chips are common, higher CRI options (90-100) are available for specialized needs, enhancing the true color representation of products.
  • Driving Current: This affects both the brightness and lifespan of the LED chip. A chip operated at a lower wattage within its range typically offers higher lumen output per watt and longer life. Ensure the wattage compatibility matches your requirements (e.g., a 30W light should optimally use a chip rated for that range, not one at its maximum capacity).

7.3 LED Ballast: Warranty and Lifespan Comparison

The LED Ballast is an essential component in lighting fixtures as it converts AC to DC to light up the LED chip. When choosing a ballast, it is important to consider various factors like efficiency, power factor, life expectancy, warranty, and total harmonic distortion (THD). Opting for ballasts from reputable brands can ensure better longevity and reliability. Brands such as Philips, Osram, and Fullham offer different warranty conditions and lifespans, which are crucial to consider when comparing products.

Below is a chart that outlines the warranty details and life expectancy for these brands:

8. Maintenance and Upkeep

Staying Prepared:

  • Spare LED Ballasts: Keep additional ballasts on hand for quick replacements to ensure continuous operation.
  • Extra Lighting Fixtures: Have spare fixtures available. If an LED chip fails, you can swiftly replace it without significantly impacting your store’s lighting.

Ensuring Continuity:

  • Effortless Transitions: With spares ready, you can replace faulty parts immediately, maintaining consistent lighting while the original components are repaired or replaced under warranty.
This proactive approach to maintenance will help minimize downtime in your retail environment, ensuring a bright, welcoming atmosphere for customers at all times.

     

    Suggested use of light colour and CRI

     

     

    Legend