Awful lighting in shops nowadays

[Brrrrrrrrrrrr]

Is it just me or is anyone else sick of retailers using the most dingy cold lighting in their stores? I’m talking about those awful stark white/blue toned lights, it’s especially noticeable in retail parks, huge stores lit with terrible depressing lights where everything just looks stark and lifeless. Card Factory is a prime example.

For anyone that has to work in them, does it affect your mood or eyesight? I appreciate there’s a cost element involved for businesses but surely to make stores look warm and inviting would be far better long term?

Can't say I've noticed any difference now compared to any time before. It's always been the sort of clinical white light you get from fluorescent tubes and now led.

If you go to the WHSmith in Croydon you practically need to take a torch.

Not noticed this at all. I'm far more put off by loud music in shops.

Next time you’re in your local shops take a look at the colour of the lighting, you’ll be surprised at how different it is in some places. But I agree with you about the music, loud bad music can be equally as bad.

WHSmiths are a classic example of how not to do retail. My local WH is closing down which is hardly surprising when it’s a cold dark void of chaos.

I can't imagine being bothered by the lighting. WHSmiths is fine, I was in there twice in the same day on Tuesday. Its just a shop, I don't need it to be cosy. I'm not settling down there with a coffee. Was in Card Factory the other day and didn't think anything of it either.

I have noticed this for a long time, really makes a shop dreary and put's me off going in. Thinking in my area Matalan and Asda where I cannot browse the clothing section because of it, seems to drain the colour from everything.
Don't even get me started on the music in some shops where it literally drives me out of the store.

I agree OP and it's on a par with those bright white street lights Christmas lights - they just look awfully cold to me. There's a small cul de sac near me that still has the old lampposts with orange bulbs, I always think how cosy it looks when I walk by

You're right but think a lot of people genuinely don't notice/aren't affected by lighting.

These are the people who put cold white and emergency service blue lights on their Christmas trees

I haven't noticed this except in a few shops, they aren't the kind you spend much time in if at all. I prefer dingy to too bright myself. It's mostly independent shops and the buildings are listed in my town so there's no one style

I do notice this but it’s always been this way hasn’t it? Just changed from cold fluorescent strips to cold LEDs.

@DappledThings I don't need WHSmith to be cosy either - it's just very off putting to be down an aisle that is so gloomy you struggle to see the products.

Has it changed, or have you changed your lights at home to warm tones, so you now notice where they’re different everywhere else? We’ve just put very warm bulbs in our hall and landing, and it’s gorgeously cosy, but the cooler white lights in the living room now feel very cold.

Never noticed that either. There seem to be people in here claiming shops are too harshly lit and others claiming the same shops are too gloomy!

I have never given the lighting in any shop any consideration or thought of it as either too harsh or too gloomy.

@DappledThings it's just the Croydon WHSmith I am referring to.
They've closed the upstairs and the area by the (now out of use) lift is so gloomy and dark.
I think they've put stationary bits there. Must be the shoplifters favourite section.

@Brrrrrrrrrrrr in answer to your question about it affecting mood it does make a difference depending on whether a shop has any natural light coming in.
The big warehouse style shops and supermarkets will only have natural light at the front by the doors and shops inside shopping malls often have no natural light.
I worked in a shopping mall shop. The entrance and front windows led to the indoor shopping centre so there was no natural light. Even the staff room, office and stockrooms had no windows. In winter I arrived when it was dark, I left when it was dark. I made a big point about going outside on my lunch break or I didn't get any natural light (or air).
Yes it definitely made a difference to my moods. I was often tired and headachey.

My local WHSmith is lit as if it contains delicate Renaissance drawings, rather than knitting magazines. I find it depressing, and hard to find what I’m looking for.

The place I work messed about with the lighting to save money. Fridge lights for example didn't come on till 10am. By that time staff had been working for 4 hours in a dimly lit shop. It's quite depressing! There must have been complaints as this only last a few weeks then back to normal.

When i am in any marks and Spencer, I have to shield my eyes from the light above or I can't see anything properly. It's not an age thing, I remember being in Dundrum M&S ten years ago and having the same problem. And I was only 35 then.

I'm the other way round. I prefer decent lighting. I wouldn't shop somewhere without good enough lights.