As a business owner, growing your customer base and increasing sales are likely at the top of your priority list. Getting your brand out into the community, investing in marketing, and perfecting customer service are all key factors, but they aren’t the ONLY things you should worry about when you want to expand. Your presence is also another important part of the overall customer experience, and a huge portion of that is created (or in some cases, destroyed) by your choice in lighting. Both interior and exterior lighting affect the customer experience since they provide the ambience as people approach your location, and as they walk in and shop or receive services. It’s important to note though that lighting begins as people approach from the street and continues until they are pulling away, so when discussing options for your place business, you have to consider the different “zones” potential customers will go through.

To begin, think about what customers see as they approach from the street. Often, it’s your sign, and then, your parking lot/ parking area. If your sign is poorly lit (dim, yellowed light, broken, etc.), it doesn’t reflect well on your brand, and it also fails to attract positive attention from the street. You can’t grow your brand if you can’t pull people from the street into the parking lot. LED lighting choices for your sign ensures that you have bright, long-lasting illumination for your business name and any other information included on your sign, so customers get a good first impression as they drive by. Once you have them in the parking lot though, the lighting is just as important. Poorly lit lots can make customers feel unsafe, as walking through a dark lot is notoriously dangerous, and it also encourages criminals to take advantage of the cover of shadows for breaking into vehicles, vandalism, etc. Making sure your parking lot has adequate lighting is key for safety of your customers and their confidence in your business.

The next “zone” your clients will walk through is the entrance to your place of business. Making sure both the inside and outside of your entrance is well-lit makes customers feel better about approaching and will welcome them in more quickly than a dim or dark environment. For businesses with a welcome desk or front sitting area, having a mixture of overhead, commercial lighting and smaller-scale, warmer, task lighting will give a pleasant atmosphere for those coming into the door and also makes employees feel more comfortable throughout the day. Going LED covers all this, since we have a variety of choices in color and wattage when it comes to bulbs for your business.

Finally, the actual interior of your place of business should be lit to accommodate the needs of your customers. Are you in retail? While all lighting is important, focus special attention on display areas, and if you sell clothing, in your try-on and dressing room areas as well. For restaurants, a soft ambience is important for diners, but the kitchen should be bright and well-lit for ease of use and for keeping things spotless. Each business will have unique needs, and experts like those at LED Advantage Florida are prepared to help you evaluate your needs, your current lighting situation, your ongoing budget, and your overall desired results to customize a plan for you. We offer top-quality products and the best service in the Central Florida area, and we know you will be happy when we help your business “get lit” and grow.