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Lighting Retail with Purpose: Reflections from the Fagerhult Team
Retail is a sector that never stands still, and lighting plays a vital role in shaping how shoppers experience a space. As lighting specialists, we work closely with designers to bring their creative visions to life, crafting immersive retail environments through carefully considered lighting solutions. Our approach is grounded in collaboration – understanding the design philosophy behind each project and ensuring that lighting enhances and supports it. We believe that the best results come when lighting is seamlessly integrated with the overall concept, materials, and atmosphere. Our retail team combines diverse experiences and perspectives, united by a shared passion for creating lighting that transforms the look and feel of a retail space. To understand what drives their work and how they approach the unique challenges of retail lighting, we spoke with three team members about their partnership with designers to shape spaces that feel cohesive, engaging, and true to the design intent. Dave Hughes, Head of Lighting Design As Head of Lighting Design, Dave’s role involves overseeing design delivery, guiding teams, and working closely with clients to ensure their spaces are not just illuminated but brought to life. Dave has vast experience working in a variety of sectors, but retail is a sector that quickly stood out for him: “I prefer working in the fast-paced nature of retail. The idea of working on a project and within weeks you see it installed – there’s a quicker gratification compared to other sectors where you wait years.” One of his recent highlights was a Next store in Thurrock, Essex, where his team collaborated with architects Gensler to reimagine the brand’s look: “We introduced more detailed LED elements, including coves and ceiling pads with squares and rectangles of light. While a few individuals from the Next team were initially hesitant about the changes being made to the store, the design looked fantastic and quickly proved its impact. It’s about moving a brand forward while staying true to its identity.” For Dave, success is measured by teamwork and outcomes: "I am driven by delivering high-quality work and take great satisfaction in seeing how our designs perform in the real world. Constructive feedback – whether positive or offering opportunities to refine our approach – is what helps us grow and develop as designers. I believe the success of any design is never the achievement of a single individual – it is the product of collaboration, learning, and shared progress. I truly enjoy being an active part of that process." Lee Thompson, Business Development Manager Lee manages a mix of client accounts and new business development. His portfolio includes household names such as Starbucks, O2, and Molton Brown. Alongside nurturing relationships, he collaborates with retail designers and fit-out companies, providing them with Fagerhult’s design expertise where their lighting knowledge may be limited. Before joining Fagerhult, Lee spent years in retail, from the shop floor to management. That experience continues to shape his approach today: “Retail gave me a strong foundation in customer service, and that’s still what drives me. I enjoy building relationships, understanding clients’ challenges, and finding ways we can add real value.” For Lee, the most rewarding aspect of the role is the impact lighting has on a retail environment: “We’re not just delivering a product – we’re helping create a feeling and an atmosphere that aligns with a brand’s identity and customer expectations. Effective lighting has the power to influence mood, guide people's movement through a space, and shape their connection with what’s on display. When it’s done well, it enhances both the environment and the overall customer experience. That responsibility is something I take pride in.” Lee’s perspective bridges the gap between customer experience and design delivery. He thrives on helping clients see what’s possible: “Sometimes clients don’t initially see what’s possible with lighting. That’s when the conversation becomes exciting – showing them how light can transform not only their products but the entire store experience.” Kayleigh Latka, Retail Commercial Director Kayleigh has been with Fagerhult for 14 years, joining the company when its retail division was still in its infancy. Her role is broad and fast-paced. She oversees the internal sales team – a group that handles everything from project coordination and quoting to stockholding and ensuring projects are delivered within tight lead times. “Retail is more fluid than other areas. Whatever the salesperson needs for a project, we make it happen. We quote, we stockhold, we coordinate – it’s very much an all-hands-on-deck approach.” For Kayleigh, the pace is what makes retail so rewarding: “I’ve always thrived under pressure. I enjoy the speed and intensity of retail – that sense of instant progress and achievement. You can work on something one week and see it live the next, which is hugely motivating.” The nature of retail projects means last-minute changes are inevitable, but she views them as an opportunity rather than a setback: “There are times when a project is 70% delivered, and a designer will request a significant change. Without moving the timeline, we need to make it work. That problem-solving element is challenging, but it’s also what keeps the role exciting.” Just as important to her as the pace is the culture of collaboration within her team: “One of the main reasons I’ve been at Fagerhult for so long is the people. We’re a very open team – hierarchy doesn’t get in the way of collaboration. Everyone has a voice, and that constant openness helps us keep improving.” Looking to the future, Kayleigh is most excited about the role of sustainability in retail: “It’s a huge topic, and more and more of our clients are pushing for it. I enjoy being part of those conversations – seeing how retailers are trying to move forward and be more sustainable in the way they design and deliver their spaces. It’s an important and exciting challenge for the industry.” Lighting Retail, Together Together, Dave, Lee, and Kayleigh highlight the unique character of retail lighting: a sector defined by pace, collaboration, and creativity. From problem-solving under pressure to shaping memorable customer experiences, the team’s shared commitment ensures that every project delivers both impact and value. It’s this combination of expertise, adaptability, and passion that continues to drive Fagerhult’s retail work forward. To discuss how Fagerhult can support your next Retail project, please get in touch.
NEWS ARTICLE |
Experts in retail lighting: Tom Harries
Our focus on retail lighting and design requires a high level of expertise to ensure client satisfaction and to bring their visions to life. With fast-paced project timelines, retail lighting must be tailored to meet specific needs while ensuring full compliance with energy regulations and fulfilling aesthetical needs. We spoke to Tom Harries, Business Development Manager at Fagerhult, to explore how his specialised background supports our retail clients and how his approach goes beyond a typical sales strategy. From product design to lighting expertise Can you tell us about your background and how you ended up in your current role? I earned a degree in Product Design at Brunel University, where I had the opportunity to take part in a year-long lighting design course - the first time such a course had been offered at the university level – which involved designing a light fitting as part of my dissertation. Following that, I had a placement at Aktiva, a UK-based company which designs and manufactures contemporary lighting solutions, specialising in high-quality, bespoke light fittings. After graduating, I joined Fagerhult, as a lighting designer. Initially, I was focused purely on design, but I soon realised I enjoyed the customer-facing side of the role, which led me to transition into sales. Having a design background is quite rare in a sales role and allows me to bring a different perspective to the position. My experience allows me to focus on discussing the scheme with the client, exploring how we can enhance it, and considering how materials can look and feel in the space. It’s very much a collaborative conversation. Overcoming challenges in retail lighting design What are the biggest challenges in retail lighting design? The main challenge is pace—when you’re working on a store refit, everything has to happen incredibly fast. While office projects might take two to three years, retail projects often need to be turned around in as quickly as one month to get the store open as quickly as possible. There’s often only time for quick sketches and drawings, so you need to find ways to quickly bring those concepts to life. Another challenge is the bespoke nature of retail design. Each project must be unique, which I find rewarding. I enjoy finding creative solutions that balance both aesthetic and practical needs. From concept to completion What does a typical day look like for you? A big part of my work revolves around managing accounts like Frasers Group, which owns a wide range of brands, ranging from Sports Direct to high-end stores like Flannels and Frasers and those in between like Jack Wills and Sofa.com. I often attend pre-site meetings in empty buildings, collaborating with architects and clients to explore what is possible. Once the design concept is agreed upon, we work to ensure that everyone is aligned and satisfied with the results. I also deliver CPD presentations to retail design agencies, sharing our expertise and building trust in our ability to bring client's visions to life through effective lighting solutions. Bringing brands to life What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most? I love working on concept development—trying to understand what a brand is aiming to achieve and then figuring out how we can realise that vision in a way that is both practical and visually striking. Sometimes we are working with tight budgets, so part of the challenge is making sure the concept works for everyone involved. Working with twelve brands under the Frasers Group umbrella, each with their own unique requirements, keeps things interesting, and being their sole lighting supplier allows us to create tailored solutions that fit each brand’s identity perfectly. Which project are you most proud of? I’m particularly proud of two standout projects. The first is the Sports Direct flagship store on Oxford Street, a massive 50,000 sq. ft space spread across four floors. This project, part of a £10 million investment from the Frasers Group, took about a year to complete. We incorporated various Fagerhult products, alongside LED Linear and LTS, as well as bespoke elements like the curved LED feature around a custom stretched fabric lightbox. Another favourite is the Flannels flagship store in Liverpool. This 120,000 sq. ft, six-floor store includes unique custom features along with a fully controllable DMX external lighting scheme. The scheme, primarily Fagerhult with contributions from WE-EF, LED Linear, and LTS brands, creates a high-contrast, luxurious atmosphere. This project earned several awards, including the Drapers Award for Best Store Design and Creative Retail Award for Store Design of the Year. What makes Fagerhult stand out? What do you think clients appreciate about working with Fagerhult? Retail is a diverse sector, and our range of brands within the Fagerhult Group allows us to tailor products and solutions to various budgets and needs. From WE-EF to LED Linear, we can provide installations for both standard and bespoke luxury retail spaces. Our team of five in-house designers collaborates closely with clients to create high-quality, customised designs. We’ve also introduced Revvit, a software for creating 3D models that enhances collaborative planning, ensuring clear communication among architects, clients, and designers, which helps to effectively bring concepts to life. Tom Harries' journey from product design to business development highlights the significance of expertise and creativity in retail lighting. His blend of technical knowledge and customer-focused service enables Fagerhult to meet clients' evolving needs with innovative, sustainable solutions. Whether working on bespoke designs for luxury stores or rapid rollouts for high-street brands, Tom effectively bridges the gap between concept and execution, ensuring every project excels.
NEWS ARTICLE |
Lee Thompson on retail lighting that elevates brands
Lighting is often the silent storyteller; shaping moods, highlighting products, and influencing how customers feel in a space. We spoke with Lee Thompson, Business Development Manager at Fagerhult UK whose unique background in retail gives him a distinct edge in creating lighting solutions that do more than just light a space and illuminate products. With experience on the shop floor and in design, Lee brings a practical, emotional, and sustainable approach to lighting that transforms retail spaces. What inspired you to get into the lighting industry, specifically with the focus on retail and hospitality? It was a mix of personal interest and chance. I spent many years working in retail, but I’ve always had an interest in design and architecture. I transitioned into a design role at a lifestyle brand manufacturer, where we worked extensively with natural materials, pigments, and especially natural light. I became fascinated by how different lighting morning versus afternoon, warm versus cool could completely change how a product looked. Lighting shifted from being just functional to an emotional, aesthetic element in my mind. When I interviewed with Fagerhult, I admitted I hadn’t focused much on lighting before; it wasn’t a big part of the conversation in retail design then. I was used to working with materials like tiles and wood but hadn’t fully appreciated lighting’s impact. Since joining Fagerhult, my perspective changed completely. Lighting is fundamental to how we experience a space. Because of my retail background, I naturally joined the retail team here. It’s a great fit, I started working in shops at 16 and spent over a decade in retail. Coming back to that world through lighting and design feels like a full-circle moment, returning to something familiar but from a fresh perspective. How has your retail experience shaped your role at Fagerhult? What unique perspective do you bring? My background is different from most of my colleagues, who often come from design or lighting design disciplines. I came from retail, including store management, so I’ve lived the daily realities of a store floor. I regularly collaborated with visual merchandising teams, helping shape store layouts and displays. This experience gives me a practical perspective when designing lighting for retail. I understand the operational needs of store managers and what a physical retail space demands beyond just aesthetics. Retail environments are dynamic, layouts change every few weeks, mannequins and stock moves regularly and lighting needs to be flexible to keep up. I focus on lighting systems that are adaptable and can evolve with the store, rather than static schemes that quickly become obsolete. This blend of practical and design thinking is what I uniquely contribute to the Fagerhult retail team. How do you develop lighting solutions that enhance brand experiences? It starts by deeply understanding the client’s emotional and experiential goals, not just technical specs. Lighting should reflect the brand’s mood and atmosphere, creating a strong emotional connection for customers. Often, clients need guidance to discover what lighting can do, so I help translate their vision into lighting that supports and elevates their brand story. Can you share a project you’re proud of? One project that really stands out is the Flannels store in Leeds. As a team it’s definitely something we’re proud of. It’s a mammoth site, seven floors of retail space and each floor tells its own story. We used a wide range of lighting, including bespoke fixtures, linear spotlights, controls, architectural lighting, and RGB colour-changing features. The scheme was designed to look amazing during store hours and also make a strong impression externally at night. The building sits by one of Leads’ iconic arcades, and the lighting enhances those architectural features beautifully. Inside, shoppers experience a rich variety of atmospheres, all carefully tailored through lighting. What makes it special is that it involved products from across the entire Fagerhult Group, not just our core brand. Coordinating that variety on such a scale really showcased our group’s collaboration strength. Since the store houses multiple brands with distinct identities, the lighting had to be flexible and nuanced, which made the project challenging but very rewarding. How do you approach combining functional and bespoke elements in lighting design? It comes down to layering light. Functional lighting ensures the space works well, enough brightness, good visibility while bespoke or feature pieces add character and atmosphere without overwhelming. Bespoke elements might not be the brightest but set the mood or highlight key areas subtly. At Fagerhult, I’ve learned lighting isn’t just a bunch of fixtures you switch on; it’s a comprehensive scheme where every element affects the whole. Removing or changing one part can alter the entire mood and experience. I always take a holistic approach, integrating functional and bespoke layers to complement each other and create the right atmosphere that supports the space’s purpose.
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