and attracts customers to the selling floor. Think about walking into a store with good lighting. Doesn’t it just make you want to purchase more and make you feel good about being there? Usually upscale boutiques and brands use dimmer lighting to create a prestigious and home-y feel. Big box store use large florescent lights to showcase the merchandise, which can seem somewhat harsh. When lighting your store, here are a few tips to follow: make sure the lights are focused on the merchandise, not the mannequins themselves or plain blank walls. Adjust the lights to crisscross in an “X” shape rather than pointing straight down and maneuver them to produce less glare on glass surfaces. Also, remember to replace burnt out bulbs with ones that match the existing bulbs and keep them clean (no one wants to see dust or bugs floating in them, ew!)

      There are three different lighting functions – ambience, accent, and task. Ambience lighting is also known as the primary lighting of a space. It gives the overall impression of a store and lights up the space. Ambience lighting defines the CRI, or Color Rendering Index, in a space. To understand CRI, think about how any color fabric looks different in amazing selfie lighting versus (vibrant red) the lighting in a dark restaurant (rusty and deep red). The CRI is on a scale from 0 to 100 and determines how natural colors look to the human eye. A good CRI for a retail space is above 80. Next, accent lighting contributes to the atmosphere at a store. Accent lighting, or secondary lighting, can be in the form of chandeliers, spotlights, wall sconces, pendant lights, and under shelf lighting. Retailers are now increasing accent lighting to create mood and using less ambient lighting. The last form of lighting is task lighting. This is the practical lighting every store needs when you are checking out at a register, trying on clothes in the dressing room, or in the restroom. It illuminates work areas so you can see everything perfectly! It is extremely important to have well lit fitting rooms because this is where the customer needs to feel good about themselves in order to purchase the merchandise. The lighting should use warm colors to enhance the skin tone of the customer and surround the mirror for the best effect. Lighting styles like recessed, track, and cable lighting are good options as well.

      There are a few different types of light bulbs and beam types that as a retailer, you need to know! This part can be a little boring, but bear with me. Fluorescent, Incandescent, halogen, and LED are the most popular light bulb types. Florescent bulbs are the least expensive type and are good for ambience lighting. For example, it is often used for navigating a large store. Incandescent lights are very good for setting a mood, but they are being phased out because they put off a lot of heat and are not energy efficient. Halogen light bulbs are commonly used for task lighting. They are more energy efficient than incandescent, but not the best. Finally, LED lighting uses much less energy, burns for a lot longer, and are brighter than the other types. The only downfall is the initial price, but over time these bulbs become worth it. LED lights even have stylized options like Edison bulbs, tube design, and unique colors. Soon LED bulbs will be the predominant option. Beam angles are another important aspect to consider for your lighting needs. PAR, BR, and MR are the three main types of beams and are specified on the light bulb. PAR is a focused and narrow light that is typically used in stage lighting. BR is a broad beam that is usually used to illuminate a room from the celling. MR bulbs are used for spotlights and are very small and sharp. They are great for shadow boxes and small window cases. Choosing the correct bulbs for your lighting fixtures is very important.

      I shared everything you need to know as a retailer about lighting. There are hundreds of variations that can be included in your space, but I hope this post helps you narrow down your choices and helps you pick the perfect lighting. Remember that lighting communicates with the customer and creates a mood; make sure it’s the right one for your store!