Lighting Design in Your Store

Create a fresh identity and brand your image with creative lighting techniques in your store displays. Lighting can sway potential shoppers’ moods and affect how customers feel about your store. The right lighting can lure people inside, calm or excite them, showcase your products or promotions as well as help prevent shoplifting. Spend a little time planning your lighting scheme and it can really pay off.

First consider making that first impression. Create smart window displays and showcase your best items. Use lighting to spotlight the focal point of each display and create the impression that you want to give. Your entryway should be welcoming and calm. Bright lights in the face of the shoppers can turn them away from coming inside. However, warm softer lighting in the doorway with contrasting bright lights towards the back of the store can draw their eyes inward and spike their intrigue. They’ll feel the pull to come inside and look around.

On the inside, use spotlighting or little bright lights that hang down from the ceiling to accent products that you are trying to move. Use bright lights on your higher priced items, such as ones in your display cases that you keep under lock and key. The bright light will excite the buyers and make your products look enticing. Slightly softer lights around the register will calm and comfort buyers, making them more likely to spend more money in your store.

Use soft lights in areas that you want to ensure comfort. For instance, you want customers to feel calm and soothed around bedding or candles. You want them excited about exciting items, like electronics or the latest fashions. Welcome new seasons and promote items that aren’t selling well with bright lights in these areas. Use bright lights in areas of the store that you notice people aren’t visiting very often. Dark corners and cluttered merchandise aren’t very appealing and are easy to pass up. Keep it clean, organized and well lit.

You can also use special lighting techniques to deter shoplifting in your store. Spotlight corners or areas with little space where thieves can easily slip items into their clothing. Again, soft lighting soothes people, and you don’t want anyone too comfortable when it comes to shoplifting. Reserve areas in clear view of the cash register for softer lighting.

Think about the dressing rooms and restrooms as well. Dressing rooms that are dimly lit can comfort shoplifters into deciding to go through with it. Restrooms are another area where people can easily get the privacy that they need to hide items in their clothing, bags or strollers. Bright lights will put them a little on edge, make them feel as if they are being watched and like they have no where to hide. Mirrors are effective in communicating that you may be watching as well. Use mirrors to eliminate blind spots in your store. Use large or even full-length mirrors in the dressing room and restroom. This not only provides a nice service for your paying customers, but keeps shoplifters’ wandering minds in check, making them self-conscious and less likely to steal from your store.