Strategic lighting concepts for fashion retailers and chain stores
Lighting design that measurably increases brand impact, sales and efficiency
Brick-and-mortar fashion retailers today face major challenges: rising operating costs, intense competitive pressure and changing customer behaviour. A professional lighting concept for fashion retailers is not just a decorative detail, but a key factor for success. Light influences purchasing decisions, attracts attention and shapes the perception of your brand. Kent Leuchten develops project-specific lighting solutions for boutiques, chain stores and retail chains – from the initial analysis and DIALux lighting design to implementation across Europe.
Why lighting in fashion retail needs to be strategically planned
Today, a modern retail store is more than just a sales area – it is a brand stage, an experience space and a decision-making zone all at once.
Lighting determines:
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how long customers stay in the store
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how high-quality products are perceived to be
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how colours, materials and skin tones appear how efficiently energy is used
Unplanned or purely decorative lighting often leads to:
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visual fatigue
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incorrect colour perception
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higher return rates
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unnecessarily high energy costs
This is where professional lighting design for retail chains comes in.
Here you can see our lighting solutions for fashion retailers and retail chains!
The sales psychology of light: CRI & R9 as a sales factor
High-quality colour reproduction is not a luxury, but a necessity.
In fashion retail, accurate colour reproduction is crucial for building trust and closing sales – especially in changing rooms.
CRI (Color Rendering Index)
Standard LEDs: usually CRI ≈ 80 Recommended for fashion and textiles: CRI > 90 A high CRI ensures that fabrics, patterns and materials appear realistic.
R9 – the decisive factor for textiles and skin tones
The classic CRI does not adequately account for saturated red tones. The R9 value is essential for: natural skin tones, correct representation of red, pink and beige tones, reduced mispurchases and returns. Kent Leuchten specifically uses LED systems with a high R9 value to minimise the so-called "mispurchase effect".
Visual comfort in shops: UGR management to prevent abandoned purchases
Glare is one of the most frequently underestimated sales killers.
An excessively high UGR (Unified Glare Rating) value leads to:
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Unconscious stress
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Rapid fatigue
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Shorter dwell times
Our solutions rely on: Deep-drawn reflectors Anti-glare lenses Targeted light guidance instead of flat over-illumination
Accentuation instead of floodlighting
Through the targeted use of track spotlights and accent lighting:
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the eye is drawn to the goods
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visual contrasts are created
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walkways remain calm and clear
Technical target values: Lux recommendations according to DIN EN 12464-1
Standard-compliant shop lighting is based on clearly defined illuminance levels:
Area: Shop window
Recommended illuminance: 2,500 – 3,500 lx
Objective: Long-distance effect & attention
Area: Entrance area
Recommended illuminance: 800 – 1,200 lx
Objective: Gentle light adaptation
Area: Sales areas
Recommended illuminance: 1,000 – 1,500 lx
Objective: Highlight textures & colours
Area: Changing rooms
Recommended illuminance: 400 – 600 lx
Objective: Feel-good atmosphere
Area: Checkout area
Recommended illuminance: approx. 500 lx
Objective: Concentration & safety
These values form the basis of all professional lighting design.
Choosing the right luminaires is crucial to the success of a project – our professional retail luminaires have been developed precisely for these requirements.
DIALux lighting design: Planning reliability for retail chains
Practical lighting simulation before project start
All lighting concepts from Kent Leuchten are simulated in advance in DIALux.
This gives you:
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precise lux calculations
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the optimum number of luminaires
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perfect mast, rail or spot positioning
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standard-compliant uniformity
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minimised glare
DIALux simulation creates transparency and planning reliability – especially for rollouts involving multiple locations.
Full service for chain stores and retail chains
Kent Leuchten sees itself as a technological project partner, not just a lighting supplier.
Our services at a glance
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Analysis of your brand identity
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Lighting concept & technical planning
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DIALux simulations
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Product selection & specification
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Construction site supervision (optional)
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Logistics & series delivery for branch networks
Whether you have 5 or 500 locations, we ensure consistent lighting quality.
Retrofit & modernisation without interruption to operations
Many existing shops still use halogen or HQI systems.
Your advantages with retrofitting
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Energy savings of 60–75%
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Lower waste heat
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Reduced air conditioning costs
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Fast amortisation (usually 12–18 months)
Our LED retrofit solutions are often plug-and-play compatible with existing 3-phase track systems – ideal for ongoing operations.
Quality, certificates & planning reliability
We provide all relevant documentation for architects, planners and insurance companies:
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LM-80 / TM-21 reports
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Flicker-free drivers CE, RoHS, ENEC
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Sustainable material and recycling documentation
Sustainable lighting as a brand value
Energy-efficient lighting not only reduces costs, but also strengthens your brand positioning:
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lower CO₂ emissions
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durable, modular luminaires
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sustainable retrofit strategies
Sustainability is increasingly becoming a selling point in the retail sector.
FAQ – Lighting in fashion retail
How much lux does a boutique need?
On average, 500–800 lx, with significantly higher levels in accent areas.
Do you offer lighting controls?
Yes – from dimming to DALI & Casambi.
Are your luminaires track-compatible?
Our systems are compatible with most standard 3-phase tracks.
Conclusion: Lighting design by Kent Leuchten pays off
Professional lighting concepts for fashion retailers increase:
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Sales
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Length of stay
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Brand impact
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Energy efficiency
From DIALux calculations to implementation, we provide comprehensive support for your project.
👉 See an overview of our project luminaires for fashion retailers and chain stores here!
👉 Find out more about our project-related solutions on the Interior Lighting Solutions page.
👉 Or discover complementary concepts under Exterior Lighting Solutions.