LIGHTS ON

Jul 27

Supporting customer experience by helping to identify which businesses are open.

This idea was originally submitted in French.

By: Épigraphe

While main streets and their shops are slowly recovering from a crisis that is dramatically changing current business dynamics, users are struggling to orient themselves – what businesses are open or still closed?

While customer line-ups can hint at certain shops’ activities, many other businesses remain anonymous, compromising their financial viability and the resurgence of main streets as the social, cultural, and economic engines of a community. Therefore, we have determined the need for a simple, effective, and fun tool to clearly communicate the resilience of main street stores.

LIGHTS ON seeks to support the post-COVID customer experience by identifying businesses that have reopened. A graphic code, specific to the visual identity of the main street, will allow passerbys to quickly spot the current offerings that can meet their needs. This code, developed by the city or by the local development society, takes the form of a lighting fixture that signals the type of business at each address. The installation of wall lamps is a non-permanent intervention - respectful of the built heritage and easily translated to any main street. In addition to making the streets safer in the evening, the identification of businesses allows a better understanding of the variety of services available for users and residents of the neighbourhood.

Details

Estimated budget: Each fixture can be manufactured for approximately $500. The manufacture and distribution of the fixtures could be taken care of by the City’s economic development organization or development society and offered as part of a business’ “welcome package”.

Materials and fabrication: The lighting fixture consists of a painted aluminum frame with wall bracket. A strip of LED lighting is affixed to the frame and a plastic film bearing the appropriate pattern is inserted on either side of the strip. The film can easily be replaced in the event of a change in commercial use. Similarly, the LED strip can change colour or be turned on and off with a remote control.

Installation and other services: The project is easily transferable and customizable, allowing each neighbourhood to apply their visual identity or develop one as needed, and proceed with the manufacture and distribution of the lights