Mitie illuminates stores for a global lingerie retailer with new lighting solution

Overview of the challenge

The client, Bravissimo, is a lingerie retailer with 26 stores across the UK as well as a store in the US. They’re based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and currently employ over 400 people.

The client has an aging estate which is predominantly landlord owned, and the lighting was in poor condition. They were receiving feedback from customers about the poor lighting impacting their experience and their ability to see prices clearly. Creating welcoming stores, which were well lit but could also reduce energy consumption to lower OPEX costs, was crucial. In addition, the client was at risk due to the government lamp ban of discharge lighting and fluorescent lighting. As a result of this ban, replacement lamps became scarce and expensive to source.

Our approach

In late 2021, the client asked Mitie to survey several key sites which were in urgent need of lighting repairs. The team surveyed each site and pulled together a comprehensive proposal, working with a lighting manufacturing partner who had extensive experience and products within the retail sector. Luminaires were selected to replace the incumbent lighting based on energy performance, light output, warranty, and colour rendition index, to present the merchandise in the best way possible.

As part of the survey, we interviewed the store managers to fully understand the critical areas of the store which sell the story of the brand to customers. Mitie devised solutions for these areas to ensure the new lighting delivered the best performance, to support both the profitability and the in-store experience.

“We are extremely happy with the LED installation carried out in a number of our shops. The consideration taking during the initial survey to understand our needs and budgets enabled the project to be rolled out in a shorter timespan than originally thought. The communication and flexibility around our business during the install was great with very little impact felt by our teams and the improvement in our shop environment is remarkable.”

The results

Mitie successfully delivered a project which has dramatically reduced energy consumption and improved the store lit environment. The new light levels meet wellness targets and, in turn, the client’s specification aligned with CISBSE and Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) guidance. The client has fed back that each store has a dramatically improved look and feel, and customers have commented on how much better the merchandise looks. Based on this feedback, the client expects the project will help increase footfall and profitability alongside the energy reduction savings.

Thanks to the success of the project, the client is now seeking funds to re-light the remaining stores and estate.

Why choose Mitie?

Mitie’s Lighting division is a dedicated team of specialists with more than 50 years’ experience in designing and installing lighting solutions. The team delivers challenging energy reduction targets for our clients through lighting refurbishment projects. In line with many clients’ commitments, we champion a ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ policy, while improving the working environment for colleagues and customers alike.