Industry:
Wine and Spirits Retailer
Location:
Austin, Texas
Products Used:
Project Overview
Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods, a beloved Texas retailer with more than 180 locations, recently transformed its newest store in Austin into a bright, engaging shopping destination. This latest location marks a significant step forward in the retailer’s ongoing evolution to meet the expectations of modern shoppers. Spec’s created a more inviting, shoppable environment that elevated the customer experience.
Challenge
In designing its North Lamar store, Spec’s didn’t want to rely on overhead (ceiling) lighting alone. The challenge? “Create for us the best shopper experience for our North Lamar, Austin store.”
The team sought to address inadequate shelf lighting common in traditional retail environments — and the issues that come with them: poor product and label visibility. Spec’s wanted a high-end feel that aligned with their desire for a fantastic customer experience. For the brands / labeling to engage with their shopper in ways not found in other retail stores.
Watch Spec’s lighting transformation.
Solution
To elevate the shopping experience, Spec’s reached out to Lighting for Impact, experts in retail store wine and spirit illumination.
“We decided to do the lighting for the store in order to brighten up the shelves and make products easier for customers to see,” said Lori Record, Store Manager at Specs North Lamar. “It makes a tremendous difference. Before, the shelves were dark and drab — now, customers can actually see the items. It brings everything up a level and makes the store feel higher-end.”
Shelf-edge downlighting was installed throughout the store. This system was selected because it’s adaptable to existing fixtures, easy to install, and offers high energy efficiency. This system projected uniform, targeted illumination directly on product facings and was implemented across the sales floor to ensure consistent visual presentation and improved shopper engagement.
Results
The results were immediate and impressive. Shoppers not only commented on the enhanced visibility but also spent more time in-store, explored additional categories, and made more spontaneous purchases.
“Retail lighting absolutely impacts sales in a positive manner,” Record said.
Following installation and store opening, Spec’s observed measurable improvements, including:
- Improved visibility: Shoppers can now read product labels more easily and identify items, resulting in a smoother shopping experience.
- Increased add-on sales: The enhanced lighting draws attention to products from across the store, resulting in higher rates of impulse purchases.
- Longer dwell times: Customers spend more time in-store browsing, which correlates with higher overall basket sizes.
- Enhanced store perception: The lighting created a more modern and premium shopping environment, aligning with customer expectations and enhancing brand presentation.
A Smart Investment for Any Retail Environment
Whether you’re selling wine and spirits, groceries, or general merchandise, enhanced lighting improves the shopping experience and drives measurable business results.
Lighting for Impact’s display solutions are easy to install, affordable, and built to deliver one of the highest ROIs available in the in-store environment.
