Five rules of professional lighting for a shoe store - something that is relevant in any season
When developing a lighting concept for shoe retailers, it is important to take into account not only the history of the brand, the architectural content of the premises, the target audience of the stores, but also the seasonality of the goods. With the onset of the cold season, client preferences change: bright weightless shoes are replaced by more massive models in discreet dark colors. Despite significant differences in summer and winter collections, the overall philosophy of the brand, its recognition should remain unchanged at any time of the year. Tatyana Ryzhova, an SR lighting expert in fashion retail, has identified five basic rules for a competent lighting concept for a shoe store for readers of the magazine, which will help to present winter assortment to customers in a winning way.
Tatyana Ryzhova - – lighting engineer of the Russian lighting company “Tochka Opory”, specialist in the development of lighting concepts for shoe and clothing stores.
Due to the predominance of dark shades in the models of winter collections, the store becomes visually more gloomy, and a professionally designed lighting concept makes the interior unique and attractive in any season. A high-quality luminaire with the necessary set of parameters is able to support the initially conceived lighting solution for goods of any type and color. What should you pay attention to when choosing lighting fixtures, in addition to their cost, appearance, availability of quality certificates and manufacturer's warranty obligations?
Spring-summer collection
Autumn-winter collectionRule 1:
Good illumination
Regardless of the concept and philosophy of the brand, the product in the store should not look dark. Yes, the general lighting can be dimmed, but the product cannot disappear or go into the shadows.
The buyer should be comfortable in the store, looking at the product and its details, choosing and trying on shoes.
With accent lighting, it is necessary to correctly withstand the contrast of the brightness of light and shadow.
Low level of general illumination of the trading floor
Sufficient level of general illuminationRule 2:
Single product lighting concept
Differences in the color temperature of local lighting and general lighting not only distract attention from the product, but also lead to the fact that the product looks different on the shelf and in the fitting area, which can confuse the buyer.
Whether you are looking for a cozy ambiance concept for meeting your girlfriends or a youthful dynamic space for your stores, furniture lighting should be done in the same color temperature to create a unified shopping space without visual interference.
Examples of unsuccessful lighting: there is a discrepancy in the color of local illumination and general illumination.
An example of successful lighting: a harmonious combination of local lighting and general lighting.Rule 3:
High color rendering
The higher the color rendering parameter of lighting fixtures, the more realistic both multi-colored and monochromatic dark objects look in their light. High-quality light sources with a high color rendering index (denoted as CRI or Ra) are able to emphasize the texture of the leather, the softness of suede, make bright colors more juicy, and dark colors more saturated.
Lighting with high color rendering allows you to add bright details (such as seasonal decorations) to the interior without fear, as colors and textures look most attractive under it.
Light sources with a high color rendering index allow for a more advantageous presentation of goodsRule 4:
professional targeting
The task of targeting is to emphasize with light all the advantages of the product, to draw the attention of the buyer to it as much as possible.
Even high-quality light sources will not give the expected effect if directed to the floor. A bright strip of light in front of the product creates a contrast that makes the product appear even less illuminated. Another common mistake is to direct the light differently on the same shop equipment.
Light targeting is something that can be changed in parallel with any changes in the shop. In the autumn-winter season, for example, it is important to highlight high shoes along the entire length. This is especially true when the product is located on several shelves, and the buyer's eye cuts off items that are above or below a certain level. If only the middle shelf is illuminated, then you should not expect sales from the assortment presented at other levels.
The light is aimed only at the toe of the shoe
The light spot captures the entire shoe
The light is aimed at the floor
The light is aimed at the product
The light is only aimed at the toes of the shoes
The light spot captures the entire shoeRule 5:
Careful attitude to the goods
Modern professional devices help not only create the right atmosphere in the store, but also take care of maintaining the quality of the goods.
Lamps with metal halide lamps heat the illuminated object, and also contain UV radiation in the spectrum, which, with prolonged exposure, leads to color fading and negatively affects the quality of leather products.
The use of LED technology can solve this problem and keep the product in its original form even at high light levels.
How Pareto's Law Works in a Shoe Retail Store
How to preserve a retail business in the fashion market in the era of marketplace hegemony?
How to Conduct an Effective Strategy Session for a Shoe Business?
How to Increase Shoe Sales in a Retail Store by 25% Through Effective Management
Difficulties in recruiting personnel and how to deal with them
Euro Shoes – on a new premium platform!
The leading international footwear exhibition Euro Shoes premiere collection will be held from August 27 to 30, 2025 at a new premium venue in Moscow - the Congress Center of the World Trade Center on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment.
Salvatore Ferragamo's Shoes Inspire Pastry Chefs
Italian confectioners have created cakes that are exact copies of six legendary pairs of shoes from the archives of the Italian "Shoemaker to the Stars" maestro Salvatore Ferragamo. They were presented in the 10_11 restaurant of the Milan hotel Portrait Milano, which is part of the hotel management company owned by the Ferragamo family.
Clarks: 200 years of quality, style and innovation
In 2025, the legendary British brand Clarks celebrates its 200th anniversary – an impressive milestone that demonstrates its enduring relevance, impeccable quality and global appeal.recognition of the brand. Since its foundation in 1825, the company has not only created shoes, but also set the standards for comfort and style, remaining a symbol of British craftsmanship and innovation.
How Pareto's Law Works in a Shoe Retail Store
Analysis of the company's performance is an important quality of a manager. Many indicators in the retail business are subject to analysis, primarily - sales planning and inventory balances, KPI performance by employees, the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, the number of sellers, their work schedules and many other factors that affect the final result of the store. In this material, SR expert on increasing sales in shoe retail Evgeny Danchev, using the Pareto principle, understands the reasons why revenue and volumes of goods sold are distributed very unevenly between weekdays and weekends. The author is confident that the Pareto principle is indispensable in the systemic analysis of sales management efficiency and sales results. But it is important to apply it correctly and interpret its meaning.
Main trend themes for footwear and bags collections for the fall-winter 2025/26 season
Whatever aesthetics your collection adheres to - craft heritage, elegant minimalism inspired by traditions or, conversely, futuristic forms - if your customer strives to be fashionable and you need to regularly update your assortment with current trendy novelties, pay attention to the design trends, models and details of women's shoes and bags in the fall-winter 2025/26 season described in this article. To prepare it, the author used materials from the international trend bureau Fashion Snoops, which is a source of commercial forecasts for the seasons ahead, and current trend analytics of key events in the fashion industry around the world: industry exhibitions, shows, shows.
Euro Shoes@CAF will be held in Almaty from March 10 to 12
Almaty is preparing for the opening of the main event of the fashion industry in Central Asia - the 35th international fashion exhibition CAF (Central Asia Fashion), which is already being held for the fourth season in cooperation with the largest Russian international shoe exhibition Euro Shoes.
New brand in the SOHO FASHION portfolio – BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB
SOHO Fashion continues to grow and develop in the Russian footwear market, and in 2025, the leading distributor's brand portfolio added a new one – the legendary BeverlyHills Polo Club (BHPC). This is an international brand that has become a symbol of the American way of life, freedom and style. Founded in the 1980s, it is inspired by the spirit of polo sport, which
associated with elitism, aristocracy and an active lifestyle.
The 35th Euro Shoes exhibition took place in Moscow!
Last week, the 35th international exhibition of footwear and accessories Euro Shoes Premiere Collection took place in Moscow. The four days of the event were intense and productive. Euro Shoes organizers noted an increase in the number of visitors to the exhibition compared to the previous edition in 2024.
The cyclicality of fashion and its impact on the financial results of the fashion business
Stylists and experts never tire of telling both professionals and ordinary consumers of goods and services in the fashion industry that fashion develops cyclically. The cyclicality of fashion has a significant impact on the financial results of the fashion business, since it dictates periods of demand and decline and determines which goods will be in demand at a certain moment. SR expert in assortment planning and management Emina Ponyatova talks about which aspects of the cyclicality of fashion should be taken into account by shoe retailers in their work, and how they affect the financial performance of the business.
How to preserve a retail business in the fashion market in the era of marketplace hegemony?
The fashion segment has become the leader in e-commerce on the Russian market in the last few years. And, of course, this trend has affected the financial results of offline retail stores, which have suffered significant losses in revenue and profit. Not every retail business can withstand price wars with marketplaces, and with each new sales season, the fight for customers will only intensify. SR expert on increasing sales on the fashion market Evgeny Danchev talks about what can be done in such a tough situation and what effective strategies to use to save a retail business.
Shoe factories in Russia are closing one after another
The shoe industry in Russia is in a severe crisis situation. A number of Russian shoe manufacturers have announced the cessation of their activities this year.
Heading towards Moscow - development of the MASCOTTE chain in a new concept
The brand of shoes, clothing and accessories Mascotte continues to actively develop the network in a new concept. Updated spaces appeared in Moscow in the VEGAS KASHIRSKOE shopping center on the 1st floor (area more than 300 m²) and the Vesna shopping center on the 1st floor (area more than 400 m²). By the end of 2024, openings are planned in the Botanica Mall mixed-use complex on the 1st floor (area more than 400 m²) and in the ODIPARK shopping center on the 1st floor (area more than 300 m²). In 2025, the brand plans to continue to expand its network of branded salons in a new concept through consistent and methodical openings in new shopping centers and rebranding of current salons with relocation to larger areas.
Sales through marketplaces. Growth points and pitfalls
Over the past few years, marketplaces have been actively growing, taking away share from offline retail. And shoe brands are eager to sell their products through these online platforms, hoping to earn a lot more and scale their business. Marketplaces really take on a lot (issues of logistics, delivery, returns, promotion in search engines), but everything is as ideal and rosy as it seems to beginners. Inexpensive traffic and regular sales come at the cost of risks and fines. SR expert in sales management and strategic development of fashion brands, business consultant Daniya Tkacheva talks about growth points and pitfalls of working with marketplaces.
Trade equipment in a modern shoe and accessories store
For a very long time, commercial equipment was a purely utilitarian item of store interior. But those days are long gone, and today retail equipment is not just shelves, racks, tables, but one of the effective tools of visual merchandising, an integral part and reflection of the concept of retail design. In the previous issue (Shoes Report, #199), SR’s resident expert in the field of store building and commercial display design, Marina Polkovnikova, examined the main trends in retail design, which, in her opinion, shoe stores should pay attention to. These are minimalism, monochrome, natural and environmentally friendly materials in the design of shop windows and retail space, inclusivity and safety. These trends will be relevant in the next few years. Continuing the topic started, in this article Marina Polkovnikova gives recommendations on how to use retail equipment to create a trendy commercial presentation of goods in a store and, at the same time, a comfortable atmosphere for customers that encourages them to make purchases.
How to differentiate yourself from competitors and earn more?
Online shoe sales are increasingly competing with offline stores every year, but they still cannot count on even a 20-30% share of sales on the Russian market. With rare exceptions, the cost of shoes on marketplaces is lower than in retail stores; for some reason, most buyers prefer to purchase a new pair, albeit more expensive, but personally choosing from the assortment presented on store windows and shelves. This illogical behavior of buyers can only be explained by the fact that each of them has individual characteristics when choosing purchases. SR expert on increasing sales in fashion Evgeny Danchev talks in detail about three options for a marketing strategy for positioning retail in the market, their advantages and benefits.
What decorative items can be used as retail equipment to effectively present shoes and bags?
More and more often, when we enter a fashionable clothing or shoe store, we see that for the presentation of goods they use objects that are unusual for a retail space - books, paintings, vases, mirrors... In previous issues with SR's resident expert in the field of visual merchandising, store building and commercial display design With Marina Polkovnikova, we analyzed current trends in store design, and in shoe retail in particular, for the next few years. The expert told how to use retail equipment to create a trendy commercial presentation of goods in a store and, at the same time, an atmosphere that is comfortable for customers and encourages them to make purchases. Continuing the topic started in the two previous issues, now let’s look at what other ways there are to update your store without changing it globally.
Global footwear production down by 1,5 billion pairs in 2023
According to statistics from the World Footwear Yearbook 2024, the annual analytical bulletin of the Portuguese Footwear Association, global footwear production fell by 6% last year to 22,4 billion pairs. And global footwear exports decreased by 9,1% year-on-year, to 14 billion pairs, writes Worldfootwear.com.
We are waiting for you at the Euro Shoes exhibition on August 26-29
The international exhibition of footwear and accessories Euro Shoes premiere collection starts in Moscow next Monday. Euro Shoes will be held in the capital's Expo Center from August 26 to 29 in alliance with the leading international clothing exhibition CPM Moscow. In one place and on the same dates, both exhibitions will bring together a large number of visitors, buyers and fashion industry professionals from Russia and the CIS countries.
MUNZ Group: Five common mistakes when searching for line personnel
Mistakes in personnel selection are costly for companies. The time spent on searching, the investment of money in organizing recruitment and the lack of salespeople in the store increase the value of each correctly selected employee and increase the cost of an error. Munz Group HR Director Ekaterina Ananenkova talks about the most common mistakes.
Making the right diagnosis. 10 ways to quickly identify your customers' "pains"
Have you ever thought about how your offer on the website of an online store, on marketplaces is perceived by the buyer? How deeply and well do you know the needs of your target audience and the fears of your customers? SR expert in digital marketing and creating a unique brand selling proposition Tatyana Vasilyeva answers these questions and also gives recommendations on how to avoid typical mistakes in the product card, how not to make a description, photos and videos, and how to avoid unnecessary expenses in the design of your product.
Shoe educational program: what shoe soles are made of
“What is the difference between TEP and EVA? What does tunit promise me? Is PVC glue? What is the sole of these shoes made of? ”- the modern buyer wants to know everything. In order not to smash his face in front of him and be able to explain whether such a sole suits him in soles, carefully read this article. In it, process engineer Igor Okorokov tells what materials the soles of shoes are made of and what makes each of them so good.
How to set prices that will earn
Some businessmen still confuse the concept of margin with the concept of trade margins and set prices for their goods, guided solely by the example of competitors. No wonder they go broke! Analyst at the Academy of Retail Technologies Maxim Gorshkov gives several tips and formulas with which you can set not only ruinous, but also profitable prices.
Sales of shoes and accessories: effective techniques for business rhetoric
Which speech modules are effective in communicating with potential and current customers of shoe stores, and which are not, Anna Bocharova, a business consultant, knows.
We form the salary of sellers: expert advice
“How do you charge your consultants for personal or general sales?” Is one of the most popular questions causing a lot of controversy and gossip on the online forums of retail business owners. Indeed, how to properly form the earnings of sellers? But what about bonuses, where to get a sales plan from, do employees allow them to buy goods at discounted stores? In search of truth, the Shoes Report turned to a dozen shoe retailers, but no company wanted to disclose its motivation system - the process of its development was too complicated and individual. Then we asked four business consultants, and finally became convinced that the topic of seller motivation is very complex, because even our experts could not come to a common opinion.
Technology Selling Issues
There is nothing worse than meeting the buyer with the words “Hello, can I help you with something?”, Because the seller works in the store just to help. Criticizing this well-established pattern of communication with the buyer, Andrei Chirkarev, business coach for effective sales and the founder of the New Economy project, shares the technology of truly selling issues with readers of Shoes Report.
The whole truth about Bayer. Who is he and how to become one?
Bayer is no longer a new, but still a popular and sought-after profession. It’s fashionable to be a buyer. Buyers are at the origins of the emergence and development of trends. If the designer offers his vision of fashion in the season, then the buyer selects the most interesting commercial ideas. It is on buyers that the policy of sales of stores and what, in the end, the buyer will wear depends on. This profession is surrounded by a magical fleur, often associated with a lack of understanding of what exactly is the work of a buyer.
Fur, and not only: types of lining
In the production of winter footwear, various materials are used that are designed to retain heat and meet the requirements of consumers: natural sheepleather, artificial fur, artificial fur from natural wool and others. All types of lining fur have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider the properties of each of them.
The best models of Czech shoes of the past
In Soviet times, for shoes from Czechoslovakia sold under the Cebo brand, customers stood in line for four hours and did not regret it, because Czech shoes were considered to be of high quality, comfortable and fashionable. Shoe designer Juraj Shushka shared a photo archive of his collection with Shoes Report magazine, which contains the most interesting Cebo models from the 1940's to the 1980's.
Retail Arithmetic
Before you begin to solve specific problems, you need to find out how accurately all the leaders of your company understand the basic terminology of retail.
How to fire a worker without tears, scandal and trial
Sooner or later, any manager is faced with the need to part with an employee. Properly and on time the dismissal procedure will save the company money, and the boss himself - nerves and time. But why sometimes, knowing that a break in relations is inevitable, we put off the decision for months?
