By: N Jayalakshmi
Last updated : July 13, 2023 12:11 pm
Retail4Growth’s ‘Spotlight’ conversation presented in association with Gardler is back, as Yogesh Chopda, Principal Architect and Founder of Nashik based Yogesh Chupda & Associates, shares his take on retailers’ approach to store lighting, on selecting the right lighting product, and more...
So, are retailers open to spending more on lighting today? Yogesh shares this thought, “They are ready to spend if they feel the product is right for them, and are convinced that the lighting solution will facilitate shopper’s purchase decisions.” He adds, in the context of finding the right lighting product, “The market is flooded with so many products today that you can meet every aspect of your lighting needs. You just have to be clear about what you need.” That’s a valid point Yogesh makes. But what about the lighting suppliers themselves? Are there certain parameters for finding the right ones? Says Yogesh, “The main parameter is the product quality. The impact should not diminish even after, say four years. Often the quality of lighting diminishes over a period of time.”
Indeed, inconsistent quality outcome or lux levels is a common challenge that many store architects talk about when it comes to lighting products. Some of them work with lighting designers to address this and other challenges. But then, it’s also a fact that there are not enough lighting designers in the retail space. As Yogesh agrees, “Yes, we do need more lighting designers, especially for premium projects where the clients spend more on the store. The need for planned lighting is higher for such projects.”
So will be there be a change in the way retailers look at lighting in the future? Yogesh certainly thinks so. “Of course. There has already been a big change in the way people have looked at lighting. Today there is so much more variety in the products available and there are many things we can do with lighting. It all depends on how the store has been visualised and designed.”
Pictures Courtesy: Yogesh Chupda & Associates