Store lighting is critical today and is becoming more important as time passes because of the aging Baby Boomer population. Unfortunately, as we age, deteriorating eyesight is often an accompanying malady. Deteriorating eyesight makes it more difficult to read labels and therefore, more difficult to make informed buying decisions. Depending upon your retail product offering, higher lighting levels communicate to this important spending group, (the Baby Boomers), that you want them in your store. This is however, but one important consideration in lighting your store. So here are some more retail store lighting tips.

First of all measure your store's lighting. We offer a good meter in our store. If your store offers general merchandise, let’s say hardware, groceries or variety merchandise, then the high light levels referred to above are spot on (no pun intended). In fact light levels in the range of  75-150 fc are recommended for maximum visibility. Maintain light levels in even the lower level of this recommended spectrum and your store will appeal to us seniors. There are a number of light fixtures on the market today that can produce these levels of illumination and do so efficiently.

If however, you wish to “upscale” your offering in perhaps a clothing or gift store, then the rules of lighting change.  A lower ambient lighting level coupled with accent lighting can create a “gallery” type atmosphere. Marry this type of lighting with classical music and appealing aromas and voila’ you have sent a message to your customers that your offering is quality, exclusive and therefore, slightly more expensive. Not a bad message to send in the aforementioned store types.

If your budget does not allow new light fixtures then here is a basic but very important retail lighting tip. Make sure your lighting fixtures are cleaned regularly. In the book Discovery-Based Retail you will read how this often overlooked housekeeping chore can help you keep your existing light fixtures operating at their maximum potential. LDD is an acronym that refers to Luminare Dirt Depreciation and its effects are startling.

Of course, the use of light in your store can encompass much more than mere functionality. Light can be splashed and sprayed on walls and key displays to create visual interest, grab attention and guide consumers through your store.

The book Discovery-Based Retail has a chapter that deals with lighting and communication. You can learn more retail store lighting tips there!