Lighting for the retail trade
von Verena W.
"If you are running or planning a retail store, lighting is an important factor to consider. In-store lighting can have a significant impact on your customers' shopping experience, from the presentation of your products to the overall atmosphere in your shop. But how do you choose the right lighting for different shopping areas?"
What do you have to look out for in different shopping areas?
Shop window lighting: first impressions count Inside the shop, it is important to highlight the products and create the right atmosphere. A mix of ambient, accent and task lighting can help. Ambient lighting provides the general light in the shop and should be evenly distributed to avoid dark corners. Accent lighting is used to highlight specific products or areas, while task lighting is used in areas that require additional light, such as checkouts or fitting areas.
Dressing room lighting: Lighting in dressing rooms can have a major impact on the shopping experience. Lighting that is too harsh can make customers look unflattering, while lighting that is too soft can make it difficult to accurately assess the colours and fit of clothing. A combination of natural and artificial light can be a good choice here. You can also consider dimmable lights to give customers control over lighting levels.
Shop lighting: putting products in the right light Inside the shop, it is important to highlight the products and create the right atmosphere. A mix of ambient, accent and task lighting can help. Ambient lighting provides the general light in the shop and should be evenly distributed to avoid dark corners. Accent lighting is used to highlight specific products or areas, while task lighting is used in areas that require additional light, such as checkouts or fitting areas.
Lighting at the checkout: clarity and efficiency At the checkout, it is important that both customers and staff can see clearly. Here you should choose bright but not blinding lighting. LED lights can again be a good option as they provide a bright and even light.
Summary: Everything in the right light The right lighting can make the difference between an average and an exceptional shopping experience. It can help to showcase products, create atmosphere and make customers more comfortable. Always remember to tailor lighting to the specific needs of your shop and your customers. With a little planning and thought, you can create lighting that makes your shop shine. Lighting in dressing rooms can have a big impact on the shopping experience. Lighting that is too harsh can make customers look unflattering, while lighting that is too soft can make it difficult to accurately assess the colours and fit of clothing. A combination of natural and artificial light can be a good choice here. You can also consider dimmable lights to give customers control over lighting levels. Lighting at the checkout: clarity and efficiency. At the checkout it is important that both customers and staff can see clearly. Here you should choose bright but not blinding lighting. LED luminaires can again be a good option as they provide a bright and even light.
Lighting for other types of shops
Lighting in outdoor areas: Inviting and safe
Lighting in outdoor areas, such as front gardens or patios, serves both aesthetic and practical purposes. You want to make sure that your shop is visible even in the dark so that it remains attractive to potential customers. At the same time, it is important to provide enough light to ensure customer safety. In these areas, you can use lights to illuminate pathways and accent lighting to highlight interesting features. You could also consider installing lights with motion sensors to save energy and provide additional security.
Lighting for food areas: Emphasise freshness and attractiveness
In areas where food is sold, such as a supermarket or delicatessen, lighting plays a crucial role. It can help to emphasise the freshness and attractiveness of the products.
For meat and fish counters, lighting that highlights the natural colour of the products can be beneficial. Fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, often look best under brighter, white lighting that emphasises their colours. LEDs are the best choice here because they generate little heat and thus do not affect the quality of the food.
Lighting for high-end products: Luxury and exclusivity
For high-end products, such as jewellery or designer clothing, careful lighting can help create a sense of luxury and exclusivity. Here, accent lighting can be used to highlight certain products and give them a "spotlight". In addition, playing with light and shadow can help create a dramatic and appealing presentation. Remember, however, that lighting should still be functional and allow customers to see the products clearly.
Final word: Individualise your lighting concept
Every shop and every product is unique and therefore needs a customised lighting solution. Spend time carefully planning and customising your lighting to ensure it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. And remember that lighting is more than just light - it can help set a mood, communicate your brand and create a memorable shopping experience for your customers.
How do colour temperatures, dynamic lighting and energy-saving options affect lighting in the shop?
The effect of colour temperatures: choose wisely
Every light has a colour temperature, which is measured in Kelvin (K), and it can have a big impact on the perception of your shop. Warm colours (below 3000K) create a cosy, inviting feel that works well for relaxing, homely areas. Cool colours (above 4000K) create an energetic, clear feeling that is suitable for areas that require accurate colour perception or high visual performance. In general, warmer colours are more suitable for retail areas such as clothing and home textiles, while colder colours work well for areas such as cosmetics, jewellery or areas with technical products.
Dynamic lighting: adaptability is key
Lighting doesn't always have to be static. With today's technology, you can use dynamic lighting systems that change throughout the day or as needed. You can adjust the brightness and colour temperature of your lighting to create different moods or highlight specific actions. For example, you could set bright, cool lighting during peak hours and warmer, cosier lighting towards evening. Or you could set up special lighting effects for sales promotions or events.
Lighting and sustainability: energy-saving options
As well as improving the shopping experience, well-planned lighting can also help to improve the energy efficiency of your shop. LED lights are an obvious choice as they use less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. There are also smart lighting systems available today that automatically adjust to optimise energy consumption. For example, motion sensors could be used to reduce lighting in low-traffic areas, or daylight sensors could be used to adjust artificial lighting when there is sufficient natural light.
Conclusion: Light the way to success
Lighting in your shop is more than just a practical necessity - it's a powerful tool that can help you improve the customer experience, enhance the presentation of your products and even reduce your energy costs. Whether you're just starting out or looking for ways to improve your existing business, it's worth taking the time to carefully plan and optimise your lighting. With the right lights, you can make your shop shine and pave the way to success.
What are important technical terms in relation to lighting design?
Playing with colour temperature
The right colour temperature can create a specific mood or atmosphere in your shop. A warm colour (less than 3000K) creates a cosy, inviting feeling and is well suited to areas where comfort and relaxation are key. A cooler shade (above 4000K), on the other hand, creates a fresh, energetic feeling and is ideal for areas where accurate colour perception or high visual performance is required. It is also important to remember that different products and materials can look different under different colour temperatures. You should therefore conduct experiments and test different colour temperatures to find the best lighting for your specific products and displays.
The key to colour accuracy: CRI
A high CRI value is especially important in areas where colour accuracy is critical. This could include areas such as apparel, art galleries or areas with high-end products. In such areas, light sources with a low CRI can cause the colours of products to appear distorted or inaccurate, which can ultimately affect customer satisfaction and sales.
Conclusion: Pay attention to Kelvin and CRI
The colour temperature and CRI value of a light source are important factors to consider when choosing lighting for your retail shop. They can affect not only the appearance of your products and your shop as a whole, but also the mood and atmosphere you want to create. By choosing the right combination of colour temperature and CRI value, you can ensure that your shop is always presented in the best light.
Conclusion - How to get it right!
The right shop lighting is more than just an aesthetic element - it can improve the customer experience, optimise the presentation of your products and even contribute to energy efficiency. Careful planning is essential, taking into account specific lighting strategies for different areas and product types.
Don't forget that the colour temperature and CRI of the lighting has an impact on the perception and mood of the shop. With the right lighting, you can ensure that your shop not only looks good, but is also inviting and successful.
If you are still undecided about how you want to implement the lighting in your business premises, why not make an appointment with the lighting planners at Skapetze for a personal consultation and the development of an individual lighting concept ?
You are also welcome to visit us on site in Simbach am Inn at , Bavaria's largest lighting studio .
If you already have a concrete idea of how the luminaires should look in your home, we can help you turn this idea into reality - our in-house workshop makes it possible.
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