The lighting of trading halls and centers directly participates in merchandising, that is, it promotes product promotion and increases sales in the same way as advertising or the activities of sellers. Lighting forms the image of the establishment, the general atmosphere in it should be pleasant and memorable so that the customer wants to come to this store again.
Commercial lighting rules
When developing lighting systems, it is better to adhere to Snipe and the following rules, be sure to take into account such characteristics as:
- comfort, psychological impact of the level of illumination – the standard range is 500-2500 lux;
- the minimalist design of the lamps themselves should not distract from the product;
- cost-effectiveness of lighting installations;
- the calculation must be made for the entire area, add 30-40% lighting to the calculation of the hall without equipment;
- the color temperature of light is the standard neutral white light of 4000 degrees Kelvin;
- coefficient of light reflection from goods;
- the angle between the light source and the eyes should be more than 30 degrees to avoid the blinding effect;
- the application of separate scenarios for different groups of goods can increase the marketability of each.
It is also worth considering the properties of the light itself: bright lighting visually brings the object closer.
Lighting can create a visual route, highlight individual zones in the room, and place accents.
The light design of the facade also makes the outlet attractive, and the light and warmth inside is an excuse to go through the store in bad weather and make a few unplanned purchases.
Types of commercial lighting
The main lighting is made close to natural. It is designed to ensure good visibility, create a positive mood and not distract visitors from shopping. In stores of non-food product groups, its permissible level is below 300 lux – for its organization, built-in ceiling lamps with halogen, metal halide or fluorescent lamps are used. According to the location, the main can be perimeter, central and tangential zones.
Any change in the traditional perception of volumes and forms in order to attract attention is called theatrical or festive lighting.
Accent lighting is a specific feature of retail spaces and areas, as a high concentration of light attracts attention. The accent can reach 1500 lux – spotlights, track systems, less often halogen or LED lamps are used here. The rotary control system allows you to change the angle of light incidence.
Decorative lighting and elements give the establishment individuality, support its corporate style, make its visit unforgettable, which also acts as advertising – chandeliers and all kinds of light installations are used.
Exposure and exhibition lighting can also be singled out separately, because the lighting in the showcases can reach up to 3,000 lux.
In practice, the following nuances of accent lighting of individual product groups have proven themselves:
- bakery products are illuminated with the warm light of halogen, fluorescent or sodium gas-discharge lamps to create the effect of freshly baked hot homemade bread;
- milk and the freezing department – fluorescent with a high color temperature and color transfer to emphasize the freshness and colorfulness of the packaging;
- meat department – with narrow spectrum lamps. They are used for various showcases, including to emphasize the natural color of meat. Innovative technologies have even made it possible to create lighting that affects the freshness of meat and prevents its rapid airing, which is 30% more efficient than usual.
- the vegetable section – a bell pendant lamp, or better, bright spotlights with metal halide lamps and a ceramic burner;
- in the alcohol department, the main thing is good color rendering, it can be achieved with ordinary lighting and placement of accents;
- for non-food products, the creation of light contrasts is widely used.
Types of lamps for commercial lighting
Types of lamps and optimal lamps for them:
- Spotlights / track lights – should give a saturated light beam and at the same time harmoniously fit into the interior. For them, halogen lamps are the brightest, and LED lamps are economical.
- Built-in downlights or sconces create uniform unobtrusive lighting and save light, as they contain a halogen or fluorescent ESL lamp.
- Built-in raster rectangular lamps – for general lighting, come with ESL or LED, suitable for all non-monolithic ceilings.
- Overhead – in general light and accentuation for installation on monolithic surfaces.
- Hanging bells have an uneven faded light of cold shades – an economical option for accentuation.
- Wall-mounted – have many options and execution styles, therefore, with ESL or LED lamps, they are used for general or decorative lighting.
- Emergency light boxes use LEDs or ESLs.
- Gimbals – for emphasis, up to 5 lamps can be placed in a box-shaped housing, each of which can be independently rotated in different planes.
- A modular lamp is a lamp inside an aluminum profile. It is convenient for creating unique prefabricated systems, it is attached to a cable or to the ceiling – most often it is a linear suspension system with ESL.
Without paying due attention to the high-quality lighting of the retail space, the owners have the risk of suffering financial losses due to the outflow of customers. Therefore, it is definitely not worth skimping on materials here.
The main task of lighting equipment for retail premises is to create the necessary lighting, working at maximum energy efficiency. Modern developments make it possible to create such lighting solutions and scenarios that turn light into a marketer’s tool, a source of information and a way of navigation. Therefore, you should not underestimate a correctly selected lighting solution, because it can become an indisputable advantage over competitors.