Page 54 - Lighting Magazine November 2019

NOW& NEXT with Nicole Davis
wHY SHouLd SHowroomS care?
Although Colors of the Year may not show up in much lighting, knowing about – and applying – this trend intel is still important for the retail lighting channel.
“While your core assortment generally repre- sents more SKUs on the floor and more dollars in the register than trend assortments, trend is what draws the eye and brings shoppers in,” Lamb says.
“When paint companies announce their Color of the Year choice, they take that message to con- sumers, who embrace it as important guidance for their décor,” she explains. “When shopping, they’re on the lookout for those colors. If show- rooms do not represent Naval, Chinese Porcelain, First Light, and Back to Nature in some way, shop- pers will be disappointed. And further, they may assume that the showroom is not up-to-date on important trends.”
One sure-fire way to ensure that your show- room is viewed as a valuable trend resource is via display. According to Lamb, using trend mer- chandise in vital display areas (such as a window or impact area at the entrance) makes a statement about not only what products can be found inside, but also the trend positioning shoppers can ex- pect when they enter. “No trend product in your visual display suggests that you have none inside,” Lamb reasons.
Even if it’s just a small display, acknowledging the Colors of the Year in your showroom mer- chandising can set you apart. 
right: Paragon’s Evanesce painting allows green to take the spotlight, but also includes navy — a great way to show how the two color picks play well together.
AbovE: The Brasilia lamp in Light Green from Bungalow 5 illustrates Behr’s Back to Nature pick well.
“If showrooms do not represent Naval, Chinese Porcelain,
Back to Nature, and First Light in some way, shoppers will be disappointed.” —Michelle Lamb
The Celeste planter from Accent Decor brings blush into the home in an approachable way, similar to Benjamin Moore’s First Light.
52 enLIGHTenment magazine | november 2019
www.enlightenmentmag.com