RANGE REVIEW: LIGHTING & ELECTRICAL
WHY LIGHTING CONTROLS ARE CRUCIAL TO REIMAGINING RETAIL
The bricks and mortar of retail has taken a battering in recent times, but innovative lighting controls can help to reimagine this industry, explains Phil McBrown of CP Electronics...
sales slumped at their fastest pace since 2008 this past August, with Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and House of Fraser all examples of large retailers feeling the pinch. The rise of eCommerce has forced many retailers into weighing up whether they put the investment into how their stores look, or into their online presence.
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While online shopping undoubtedly offers convenience, the ability to touch and feel, smell, taste and listen to the products that are being bought is something that some retailers are capitalising on. Primark is one clear example
of a retailer that still has hope for the high street. In April 2019, the fashion retailer launched its biggest store in the world in Birmingham, packed with a Disney-themed café, a barbers shop and beauty studio. By successfully reinventing its presence on the high street, the brand has tapped into the ‘experience economy’ trend. That is, they have made their store a go-to destination that offers a unique experience, and not just a place where cash is traded for clothes. For the bricks
and mortar
economy, it’s a case of being truly innovative to attract customers back time and time again. One ingredient for making this happen is lighting
14 DIY WEEK 9 DECEMBER 2019
ecent years have seen the traditional retail
industry
struggle to keep up with the digital world. High street
and lighting controls. Clever controls can bring not just creativity to store designs, but also comfort, effectiveness, and commerciality.
cost-
Lighting – a defining factor It’s long been known that lighting is a vital asset to retail to either draw attention to passers-by, or create an ambient, welcoming environment. Some retailers use the commodity to full effect, making it a defining factor in their outlets. Hollister’s stores, for example,
are famed for their super low-light levels, while Apple has just patented a new smart ceiling design to use in next-gen Apple stores. The tech giants believe that uniform lighting offers an ideal customer experience and more flexible product display options for wide-open spaces, which is an Apple store hallmark. This level of lighting design
may sound dauntingly expensive and sophisticated; however, an impressive lighting display can be easily achieved through clever, yet
simple solutions. For instance, a fully addressable system that runs off the DALI protocol can allow for full control of individual luminaires, their lux levels and output. This is achieved by each fitting having its own unique ‘address’, enabling it to be programmed from either a lighting system attached to a head-end PC or tablet. Luminaires can then be grouped together to form a range of ‘architectural lighting’ scenes, and controlled from scene plates
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