Over the last few years, a lot of independent lighting shops around London and the UK have shut down. If you’ve walked down a high street recently, you’ve probably noticed it too. It’s not just your imagination – the lighting retail world has changed, and it’s changed fast.
But while many stores have disappeared, some have figured out how to adapt. Harrow Lighting is one of them. We’re still here, still open, and still helping customers every day – just not in the same way we used to.
Here’s a closer look at why so many lighting shops are closing, and how we’ve changed with the times.
1. More People Are Shopping For Lighting Online
This one’s no surprise. These days, it’s normal to do most of your shopping online including lighting. You can compare prices, read reviews, and get your order delivered without leaving the house. With so many online lighting retailers in the UK, it’s easy to see why more people are choosing to buy LED lighting online.
Big online retailers often offer lower prices, and that’s tough for small shops to compete with. So unless a shop has something extra to offer, they often struggle to keep up.
But here’s the thing: online shops can’t give you personal advice. They can’t walk you through lighting plans, recommend the best smart lighting installation for your home, or show you how a pendant light will really look in your hallway. That’s where we’ve shifted our focus – more on that in a minute.
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External reference: Pooky Lighting – Online Lighting Retailer UK
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Learn more about our bespoke lighting design and consultation services
2. Rent and Running Costs Are Too High
Running a retail shop, especially a lighting showroom in London, has never been cheap. But with rising retail rent in the UK, utility bills, and other overheads, it’s become harder to make the numbers work. Many independent lighting shops just can’t afford to keep going when foot traffic is down and online competition is up. It’s not about passion or service – it’s just simple maths. These pressures are driving a wave of high street shop closures, especially in and around the capital.
At Harrow Lighting, we’ve adapted by focusing on what our showroom does best: offering hands-on service, expert advice, and lighting solutions you can’t get online.
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Read more on the challenges retailers face Easy Digital Company – Death of the high street, who is surviving?
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Explore our full lighting showroom in London and bespoke design services
3. People Want More Than Just a Light Fitting
Lighting has changed. It’s not just about swapping a shade or picking a colour temperature anymore. Now, people want smart lighting systems that connect to their phones, work with voice assistants, and set the right mood in every room. That’s great but it also means the advice you need is more technical.
A lot of older lighting retailers didn’t keep up with these changes. They stayed focused on selling fittings, when what people really needed was expert guidance on home automation lighting and tailored support from experienced lighting consultants in London.
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Explore how home lighting tech has evolved with this guide on The Lia – The future of smart lighting technology
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See how we offer expert lighting consultancy and smart system installation in London
So Why Is Harrow Lighting Still Here?
We saw these changes coming, and we changed with them.
Yes, we still have a lighting showroom in London, and people love being able to come in and see things in person. But we’re more than just a shop now. We work closely with homeowners, designers, architects, and builders to create proper lighting plans. We install smart lighting systems. We help with bespoke lighting designs for both residential and commercial projects.
Most importantly, we’re here when our clients need advice – whether they’re choosing fittings or working out how to control the lights in their whole house from their phone.
People don’t want a warehouse full of fittings. They want to work with someone who actually knows lighting and cares about the end result. That’s where we come in.
Here’s how you can get in touch:
📍 Visit our Harrow Lighting showroom
📞 Book a consultation – 020 8908 6820
Want to Learn More?
If you’re interested in the state of lighting retail or smart lighting trends in the UK, here are some helpful resources:
- Lighting Industry Association — Industry news and professional guidance
- Dezeen Lighting Features — Great for lighting design inspiration
- Smart Home Week — Covers tech trends in home automation
Final Thoughts
Lighting retail has changed – there’s no doubt about that. But change doesn’t have to be the end. At Harrow Lighting, we’ve kept what works (real advice, real people, and a real showroom) and added the services today’s homes and businesses actually need.
We’re not just selling lights anymore. We’re helping people make the most of their homes.
