The profitability of your spirits and wine sales can really brighten up when you attract shoppers to your high-value inventory. Anyone who is in retail liquor or wine sales knows that fine wines and luxury liqueurs are the items that can push your profit margins well above the 20% mark. So how do you direct shoppers’ eyes and capture their hearts with your most premium inventory? Modern lighting for wine and spirits retailers are the answer.
Inspiring Sales of Premium Spirits and Wine
Wine and liquor are something of a luxury across the board when you really think about it. They are a luxury in the sense they aren’t a necessity of life (though some may disagree). That actually represents an opportunity though. Because for many people wine and spirits are about more than just having adult beverages on hand for themselves and their guests.
What you drink and what you serve says something about you. The same is especially true for the gifting season between Thanksgiving and the New Year celebrations. There’s a great deal of image behind modern liquor marketing especially. For example, the wine you serve is more than a compliment to the meal, it’s also an opportunity to show people you know your stuff. Or the chance to enjoy or share something unique or extravagant, if that’s your thing.
The Rise of Ultra-Premium Liquor Brands & A Slump in Sales
Much of the same is true for liquor. Just look at how many luxury and ultra-luxury vodka brands have appeared on the market in the last 15-20 years. Now we have premium tequilas and gin as well. It wasn’t that long ago when true premium and ultra-premium categories were largely limited to Scotch whisky.
What that means for you as a wine and spirits retailer is several additional avenues to greater profitability. But you have to do your part in the marketing and imagery that helps convince people to spend two or three times as much on their gin than they used to. The reality is that alcohol sales have been slumping, especially when considering that the younger Generation Z is consuming less alcohol than their predecessors. A report by Berenberg Research indicates that Gen Z may be drinking as much as 20% less than Millennials and overall, many people in general have become increasingly drawn to a sober lifestyle. Wine and liquor makers do a fine job of developing some truly beautiful bottles and label art, but it’s up to you to highlight and showcase these items to maximize their appeal for the share of the market that still displays interest. That’s where wine and spirits lighting comes in.
Showcasing Your Wine and Spirits with Modern Lighting
The advent of LED lighting has been a game-changer for retail. LED lighting has opened up a world of possibilities because the technology is powerful and small enough to fit nearly anywhere. In addition, LEDs generate very little heat, and are extremely energy-efficient and super long-lasting.
One of the most effective ways to give bottled assortments tremendous shelf appeal is LED uplit panels and panel lighting. These lighting options do a fantastic job of lighting liquor and wine bottles from below and/or behind, creating an ultra-upscale modern look that captivates shoppers and holds their attention.
Retail Lighting for Wine and Spirits with LED Overhead Illumination
Upgrading older lighting with modern and affordable LED is a great way to freshen and update the look of your store. LED retail display Wall Washers can easily be added to your existing gondola shelving to immediately create a more inviting and upscale shopping experience. Not only that, but LED lighting turns 95% of its energy into light. LED lights are 80% more energy-efficient than traditional fluorescents.
That translates into lower power bills and lower maintenance costs because LED bulbs last 4-5 times longer than fluorescent lights. That also means you’re up a ladder a whole lot less often, plus there are no dim, yellowish, or flickering lights in your store. It’s easy to see why so many liquor stores are moving away from fluorescent and enhancing the shopper experience with LED.
Just some of the advantages of upgrading your store with LED lighting:
- LED lighting lasts 4-5 times longer than fluorescent bulbs.
- You get much higher quality light with no flicker or yellowing (vs fluorescents)
- LED lighting gives you virtually limitless control over light color and temperature.
- Unlike fluorescents, LEDs convert 95% of their energy into light (80% more efficient)
Lighting for Wine and Spirits – Creating an Ambience for Spirits and Wine Shoppers
The one thing you have the greatest control over in your store — or section of your store is the shopping experience. You have the power to create the mood and ambiance that will shape your shoppers’ perception, increase their dwell time, and make them want to browse every aisle.
Your most attractive and most profitable products deserve to be highly visible and have complementary lighting that showcases the bottle glass, label designs and colors of contents in a more compelling way. Lighting for Impact can help you do all of the above with our spirits and wine lighting solutions. We also offer affordable LED cooler lighting to update coolers and beer caves. If you have questions about wine and spirits retail lighting or any of our retail lighting solutions, please contact us online or call us at (844) 218-4112.
