Cabinet Display Lighting

To ensure you have the best opportunity to sell your products you need to illuminate them as brightly as possible whether it be in a display cabinet or a shop window.

Our range of compact LED cabinet lighting fixtures have something for most applications and offer superb light to give your products some bling.

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Why LED Cabinet Lighting Is Important For Displaying Items

In a retail shop, what your customers see is what they get. There is no time to follow each one around and give a sales pitch, and there are no detailed product descriptions like there are on e-commerce sites. It is up to you to present your items in the best possible light to attract attention and sales. For items in a case or cabinet, this means using display case lighting.

What Is Display Cabinet Lighting?

Display cabinet lighting is lighting that is used to display items on a shelf or in a cabinet. Also known as display case lighting and curio cabinet lighting, it is particularly popular as jewellery display case lights. Small, dedicated lights help to add sparkle and shine to the items to catch the attention of customers and show them off, assisting in securing sales.

There are different types of retail display lighting, including but not limited to:

  • Mini display case lights
  • Display cabinet spotlights
  • Glass cabinet lighting
  • Stacked LED display cabinet lights

How To Position Display Case Lights?

The most important thing to consider when positioning LED lights in a cabinet is the glare. You want to make sure whoever looks into the case won’t immediately be blinded by it shining back at them. To prevent glare, position the lights along the edge of the display case. Then, point the lights downwards instead of out to prevent them from shining light off the glass.

You can use lights on a post and shine them downwards to achieve this. You could also opt for recessed lighting and install it at the top of the case. This will allow light to shine down on the items instead of outward. It will also free up more room in the case for your items.

What Are the Benefits of LED Display Case Lighting?

Because Display case spot lights are small, they don’t take up a lot of room. You can install as few or as many of these lights as you need to properly illuminate the items you have for sale without making the space look bulky and cluttered.

LED light also generates very little heat, which can benefit the cost of energy in your shop. This is because less heat from the many lights will prevent the space from getting too hot and prevent the air conditioning from having to work harder to keep up. Not only will the energy efficiency of the LED lights save money on your bills, but it will also save money on the lights themselves — you won’t need to replace them nearly as often.

In terms of heat, LED lights are the best solution for illuminating display cases that house food or chocolate. If you used a standard halogen bulb in these settings, the heat that comes off of it is likely to cause the food to soften or melt. Furthermore, LEDs won’t fade clothing in a display case like a typical halogen light might. This, too, is due to the lesser amounts of heat LEDs give off.

You can also choose your LED lights from a broad display of colour temperatures. The ranges will allow you to enhance certain products in certain lights depending on the atmosphere or mood of the shop.

What LED Light Colour Is Best for Mini Cabinet Lighting?

Instead of wattage, the brightness of an LED light is determined by the lumen output. The colour of the light that is given off does affect the lumens of the bulb; the higher the Kelvin temperature, the cooler the light will be. This means higher Kelvin temperatures will yield higher lumens.

Kelvins can be used to do more than get an idea of the number of lumens a light might give off. LED lights are versatile in the many colour options they come in, and lighting colour temperature is measured in units Kelvin, represented by “K” at the end of the number. The common ranges of colour temperatures include:

  • 2700k – extra warm white light
  • 3000k – warm white light
  • 3500k – white light
  • 4000k – cool white light
  • 6000k – daylight

In essence, the warmer the light, the lower number of Kelvins. The cooler the light, the higher number. Often, warmer lights will be used in domestic or hospitality settings; they are warmer and more inviting while also being easier on the eyes. In retail settings, you’ll commonly see 4000k and 6000k white light. These colour temperatures are crisp and clear, offering an accurate look at the colours of the items on display. They will also better show the detail of the products. Overall, this type of light is a go-to for anything that needs a lot of attention.

Mini display cabinet lighting for retail spaces can be used in specific ways to highlight your items. Follow these tips below to make the most of the lights:

  • DIRECT THE LIGHTING. Turn the heads of the display cabinet light fittings to point the light directly on what you want to show off.
  • HIGHLIGHT ITEMS. Having general lighting in the display case will draw attention to more than one item at once.
  • PREVENT GLARE. By turning the light away from the eyes of whoever might look into the cabinet, you can ensure that there is no glare on the glass blocking their view.
  • TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COOL LIGHT. In jewellery cases especially, using 6000k cool white light can make the items sparkle and shimmer. This type of light is similar to daylight and therefore offers a more accurate look at colours and details.
  • WARMER LIGHTS IN MUSEUMS. In museums and galleries, 3000k warm white light may be better. This is due to the fact that it can bring out the warmth in the items that you’re displaying.
  • USE UNDER-CABINET LIGHTING. Create the illusion of light glowing from an unknown source below the frame by installing the lights right beneath the shelves.
  • CONSIDER OTHER LIGHTING. Think about the surrounding lights and the way the light falls from said fixtures. If those lights touch your display case, you’ll have glare to deal with. Either add diffusers or rethink lighting around the display case to prevent this.

All LED lights run on low voltage. Because of this, they will indeed need a transformer. A transformer will do the work to convert the mains 240 volt supply to the proper low voltage to allow them to operate safely. With a converter, you won’t have to worry about the power supply being interrupted. It will also prevent flickering, colour changes and overheating. Overall, the driver will make up for the changes in temperature and conductivity in the LED lights. Small transformers are often known as drivers. They are usually fitted in the body of the light or will otherwise rest in a safe place outside of the cabinet.

An LED driver works by adapting to the voltage requirements as the temperature of the LED light changes. When it gets hotter, the light will need less voltage and use less power. If this is left unchecked, the temperature will keep climbing, resulting in the possibility of the LED light burning out. This is called thermal runaway. A driver will prevent this from happening.

The types of LED drivers are:

  • Small LED drivers made to be used with 4 watt rated LED lights.
  • Dimmable LED drivers let the user adjust the brightness of the LED lights.
  • High power LED drivers are used in larger lighting systems, often commercial.
  • COB LED drivers, or Chip on Board drivers, are used with integrated circuitry. They usually are dimmable.
  • LED string drivers are often used for mood lighting or string lights like Christmas lights.

What LED drivers you need will depend on the following:

  • Voltage of the mains power supply
  • Total amount of power consumed by the system’s LEDs
  • Whether the LEDs need a steady current or a steady voltage

Because the lights are normally placed very close to the objects that they are illuminating, they don’t need to be too bright. Because they don’t need a high wattage or lumen count, you can usually get away with a single watt LED bulb. A 1 watt LED light will produce 70 lumens of light, which is the equivalent of a typical 10 watt halogen bulb. This means an LED light gives you all of the power of a halogen bulb at a fraction of the heat and energy consumption.

Since lighting requires electricity, you may run the risk of shock or electrocution if you try to install them yourself. It is best to get a qualified, professional electrician to install your retail display lighting. This way, you can be sure they are not only properly installed, but safely installed as well.

LED display cabinet lighting is an easy way to highlight items for sale in a display case. It can bring out the details and the colour and shine of the merchandise, attracting the attention of customers to potentially increase sales. LED lights specifically have many benefits when it comes to retail display lighting — from limited heat output to energy efficiency to versatility, they are a popular option in retail settings.

Above, we outlined some information on how to use LED cabinet lights in your retail shop. We also gave you some tips on how to choose the brightness and colour temperature that is best for your space. Keep this close at hand as you shop for your new LED lights to make the best choices for your shop’s needs.

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