When the Light is Right: The Importance of Lighting in Retail

Whether a retailer opts for dim lighting or makes his store lively with bright lights, the most important thing to remember is that lighting needs to go with the brand story. A mismatch there and it’s sure to affect footfalls…

- Zainab S Kazi

American photographer Aaron Rose was famously quoted saying: “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” Nothing could have better accentuated the importance of right lighting for a retail store than the Rose’s quote. Whether a retailer opts for dim lighting or makes his store lively with bright lights, the most important thing to remember is that the lighting needs to go with the brand story. A mismatch there and it’s sure to affect footfalls.

We speak with industry experts from different verticals to learn more.

If one has to narrow down on one of the best and most wisely lit retail stores, then without doubt it has to be the H&M chain. The stairway that connects the floors of the store moving from one section to another give the shopper a feel of walking into an open space that is naturally lit. From concealed LED lights that bring alive the white story of the store to the brightness that is just right for the eyes to shop without getting stuck at any particular section, all of the H&M stores are delightfully lighted. Similarly, there a lot many stores that takes their lighting seriously too. Lighting is not just about fancy lighting that attracts a customer to the store, but it is all about knowing where and which section of the store needs special focus. Good store lighting can have a strong impact on the way the customer shops at a retail store and eventually it plays an important role in compelling him to fill his shopping bag.