You may have heard the phrase ‘your website is your shop window’. And for a lot of businesses, that’s very true – which is why they invest a lot of time and money in making it flawless. But what if your business’s shop window actually is a shop window? How can you make your wares look enticing enough for busy customers to stop and look, and then come inside? It’s not easy, especially in today’s society where there is so much demand on everyone’s time. And while it might seem like a small thing, the lighting choices you make can significantly impact how many people come into your shop, how much they buy and even what they choose to buy. But there are a few key things you can to do design retail lighting that’s effective, safe and enticing for passers-by.

Know Your Lighting Styles

Accent Lighting: This is the lighting you use in areas you want to draw attention to, like a prominent display or a demonstration area. Anything you want to highlight within your store. This can come in a few different forms, including internal cabinet lights to ceiling spotlights to emphasise racks or free-standing displays.

Task Lighting: Lighting that has a very specific purpose, and is usually found in areas where more lighting is needed to help employees perform tasks or customers make important buying decisions. Task lighting is more often found around checkout counters, dressing rooms, service desks and stock rooms.

Decorative Lighting: This is the light you use to create an atmosphere and make your shop look and feel like a nice place to be. It’s much broader than the previous 2 types of lighting and is usually used as a way to continue your branding throughout the premises. For example, if your shop sells luxury goods then you might have a chandelier. If it’s more modern and edgy then pendant lighting might be more appropriate. It’s your chance to get creative and playful with lighting.

Ambient Lighting: This is arguably the most important since it’s the main source of light in your shop Ambient lighting fills the gaps between all of the other forms of retail lighting and ensures that your customers can actually see. It’s also to make your customers feel comfortable, and ensure they can safely explore the entire shop.

Understanding Colour Temperature

Did you know that all lights have a different colour temperature – or that it has nothing to do with heat? Lighting can come in a range of temperatures, from warmer tones (usually more yellow) to cool ones (usually a brighter white colour). The colour temperature of the lighting you chose can hugely impact the ambience of your shop and how people view your products. For example, if you want to create a cosy, inviting feeling, you’ll want to choose a warm colour temperature. Colder tones give off a modern, crisp tone – which makes them great for tech shops like Apple, or brands wanting to create that futuristic feel. What we’re trying to get at is that the colour temperature you choose will set the tone and feel for your entire shop, so it’s a pretty important decision.

Turning Floor Plans Into Lighting Plans

Before you start buying light fixtures, you need to know what to buy and where it will go. You’ve already done part of that by understanding your lighting styles. Now is the time to sketch out your shop and work out what lighting needs to go where. This is an important step, as it informs not only your buying decisions but also helps your electricians know what wiring needs to go where.

Identify Key Display Areas: Are your displays going to be mounted on the wall, in the centre of the floor space, or a mixture? These are the areas you should place your accent lighting.

Mark Workspaces: Any areas where staff will be performing tasks will need to be lit with task lighting solutions. You should also think about task lighting in key customer areas light changing rooms.

Add Decoration: Now comes the fun part. Think about how you want your shop to look, and let your inner interior designer run wild. Add some decorative flair to your shop wherever you like, to bring a bit of personality and brand identity to the space.

Fill The Gaps: Now that you have the essentials in place, look over your plan carefully. Are there any gaps? Can you see any spaces that might end up being dark, or just on the edge of any other lighting, creating dingy pockets of space? This is where your ambient lighting fits in.

At Bonus Eventus Maintenance we don’t just take care of your HVAC needs. We also have a team of skilled, NICEIC-approved electricians on hand to create well-designed electrical solutions, with the maintenance plans in place to ensure your wiring is always up to code and performing well. Whether you’re installing a new access control system or opening a new retail unit, we can be there to make sure it all goes smoothly. If you would like to know more about our electrical services, just get in touch with the team today.