Bright light causes a human’s pupil to constrict allowing the eye to process an image better. Therefore, lighting is key when displaying retail items.
Importance of Lighting in Retail Stores
More thought is put into the lighting of a store than you may think. Lighting is used for many purposes within a retail space such as highlighting architectural elements, enhancing product qualities, and creating virtual spaces.
Light can also be used to accent different products in order to summon attention to such items to help them sell. Using light to showcase items ultimately enhances the shape, size, and color of such products.
Essentially, retail lighting enhances the visual appearance of products so as to catch the eye of a customer, and therefore, promote sales.
Effect of Retail Lighting on Customers
When walking into a store, have you ever been taken aback by how bright it is and maybe even start squinting? Well, the store does this on purpose. It is a known fact that lighting triggers a higher level of engagement among customers.
This ultimately leads to more sales and a faster pace at which customers may buy items. The lighting within a store can also affect a customer’s overall mood. Using intense lights to illuminate a retail space can promote energy, positivity, and even honesty within a customer. These characteristics are important when one is in the process of buying a certain product.
What kind of Lighting should be used in store?
A store can achieve a customer’s attention by using LED lighting which helps properly light a product and allows the customer to reach proper perception of a product. These lights will ultimately increase the speed of the customers by creating energy. Likewise, if a store were to light the space with dim lights, this creates more of a relaxing and calm environment, decreasing the speed at which customers may shop.
Bright lighting doesn’t necessarily need to be used throughout the whole store, but rather a balance of both bright and dim lighting. For example: if a customer is shopping at too fast of a pace due to bright lighting, they may overlook items.
Overall, the lighting of a store should depend on what tone wants to be set: a bright fast-moving environment or a relaxing enjoyable atmosphere.
Types of store lighting:
Accent Lighting-
The main purpose of accent lighting is to highlightkey products or even specific areas within a store. This draws the attention of acustomer by increasing the visibility. Examples include track lighting, lighting within cabinets, and picture lights.
Ambient Lighting-
This type of lighting should be used all throughout the store. In other terms it is the backdrop that other lights will then be layered upon. Examples include using bright lights to make up for the lack of natural light within a space.
Decorative-
The use of decorative lights serves more for an aesthetic purpose rather than actual lighting purposes. Examples may include string lights – which are legendary.
How to improve store lighting?
- Store lighting can be improved by
- Using lights that reflect seasonal trends
- Using bright white light to show colors accurately
- Illuminate isles in a way that directs the customer and draws attention to specific
- products
- Using Ambient lighting to create a comfortable space
- Use decorative lighting to add interest
Lighting in stores may be different than your lights at home. So, keep this in mind when you get home, and your product may look nothing like it did in the store. The store isn’t ripping you off, they are ultimately using a great resource to help show customers a product’s true form. :)
