Convenience stores are a go-to destination for people who are short on time but looking to grab a quick snack, beverage, or household item. With the growing competition in the industry, paying special attention to convenience store lighting is essential to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere to attract and retain customers. Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and ambiance of the store, and it’s also a key factor in driving sales. 

Let’s explore the impact of lighting on convenience store sales, the types of lighting fixtures available, and tips for optimizing convenience store lighting.

How Convenience Store Lighting Impacts Sales

The lighting in a convenience store has a direct impact on consumer behavior. Implementing brighter lighting in convenience stores can increase sales significantly, as it creates a sense of alertness in customers. Conversely, dimmer lighting can make customers feel relaxed and less inclined to make purchases. Most people spend between one to three minutes in a convenience store, so deploying a lighting design that prioritizes function is crucial in maintaining a streamlined shopping experience for customers. 

Lighting can also affect the perceived size and layout of a store. Brighter lighting makes the store appear larger and more spacious. This can be especially impactful for convenience stores which typically have a smaller footprint.

Lighting also plays a crucial role in product presentation. Proper lighting can highlight specific products and draw attention to promotions and discounts, while also enhancing the apparent color and texture of food and beverages. Attractive illumination can increase the perceived quality of the products and encourage customers to make purchases.

Types of Lighting for Convenience Stores

There are several types of lighting fixtures available for convenience stores, each with 

its own unique benefits.

1. General lighting: This type of lighting is installed in the ceiling and provides overall illumination for the store. The lay-in interior lighting from Solais is a great option for convenience stores looking for energy-efficient and long-lasting lighting fixtures.
2. Track and accent lighting: These fixtures are ideal for highlighting specific products or areas of the store. Solais offers a range of track and accent lighting options that are perfect for highlighting high-margin items and promotions.
3. Display case lighting: Chilled and frozen food and beverage items require specific lighting to enhance their appearance and freshness. Reach-in and canopy/shelf lights are a great choice for coolers as they are specifically designed to highlight products vertically or horizontally, as needed, while helping the unit stay at the correct temperature with minimal heat production.
4. Parking lot lighting: The parking lot is the first point of contact for customers, and proper lighting can enhance safety and create a welcoming atmosphere. Check out our other blog on parking lot lighting for more information.
5. Wallpacks and canopy lighting: Wallpacks and canopy lights are essential for safety and visibility as customers enter and exit the convenience store. Wallpacks are mounted on the exterior walls of the building and provide bright, wide-angle illumination to ensure well-lit pathways and deter potential hazards. Canopy lights are typically installed above the entrance or gasoline pump areas, providing ample lighting for customers to navigate safely.

Tips for Optimizing Convenience Store LED Lighting

Here are some tips for optimizing convenience store lighting:

Choose energy-efficient options: LED lights are the standard for an efficient lighting design. Additionally, smart lights are a great option for convenience stores looking to save on energy costs, as they can be programmed to automatically adjust brightness and color temperature, based on the time of day and the amount of natural light in the store. 

Pick the right lights for color rendering: The color rendering index (CRI) is a measure of how accurately a light source renders colors compared to a reference light source. The CRI ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the most accurate color rendering. A higher CRI can help products appear more vibrant and appealing to customers. Poor CRI can cause colors to appear washed out, muted, or distorted, leading to inaccurate color perception. Choosing lighting fixtures with a high CRI can make products appear more attractive and appealing to customers, which can ultimately increase sales. 

Use lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere: Proper lighting can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for staff and customers. Consider using warm-colored lights and avoiding harsh glare or shadows. Ensure the lighting is evenly distributed throughout the store to avoid dark or shadowy areas, which can make customers feel uneasy or unsafe.

Highlight high-margin products with accent lighting: Accent lighting can draw attention to high-margin products and create a sense of urgency in customers.

Choose long-lasting fixtures and regularly clean and maintain them: Investing in high-quality and long-lasting fixtures can save money in the long run. It’s also important to regularly clean and maintain the fixtures to ensure they are working properly.

Choose Solais for Convenience Store Lighting

At Solais, we offer a wide range of high-quality lighting solutions that are specifically designed for the retail industry – read more about retail lighting tips here. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you select the ideal lighting fixtures for your convenience store.