Living Nature's Flagship
Development
Halogen lighting gives an effect close to natural lighting (click to enlarge)
Wooden walls and cupboards (click to enlarge)
Product display (click to enlarge)
A shelf-talker (click to enlarge)
Lighting was another consideration in the outfitting of the store. Products such as essential oils are sensitive to light so need to be suitably stored. This had to be thought about when placing the light fittings so that the lights didn’t unduly heat the various products.
A deliberate decision was made to stay away from the neon lighting found in most shops and offices. This was done because of the company policy to avoid using technology which is detrimental to health and/or atmosphere (some people are sensitive to the flickering of neon lighting). Halogen lighting was used in many instances as is clean, clear and the effect is close to natural lighting.
A minimalist look is used to give the shop its air of calm and this is carried through in the storage racks. The wooden wall cupboards appear part of the wall and contribute to the overall natural look of the shop, yet when rolled out make a storage space for stock. This doubles as a light free place to store susceptible oils and lotions.
Air conditioning is used throughout the shop to spread heating in winter but one of the advantages of this site is that it is very sheltered, so less energy needs to be used to heat the shop every time the doors are opened.
Respecting the planet is part of the company policy and thus recycling is used where possible. Packaging is recycled as are all glass bottles. The shop pays a small refund on any bottles returned.
Unbleached paper is used to avoid the health and pollution problems raised by bleaching. The store also endeavours to limit how much paper is produced to lessen the impact of people dumping unwanted leaflets. Rather than printing out details of the products on throwaway paper the relevant details are all printed on the label of each item. While this may mean people who are used to lots of glossy sheets have to read the small writing more closely, it is considered that this is a worthwhile compromise to avoid wasting resources. To offset any inconvenience the lists of ingredients are printed on shelf-talkers.
Vaporisers are always used in the shop; the essential oils give a welcoming aroma which has a powerful influence on the state of mind. Oils are chosen to create a relaxing, uplifting mood and are varied according to the prevailing energy of the day. For example a calming oil is chosen on a hot, pre Christmas shopping day.
