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As the owner of a retail store, your profit margins depend wholly on the number of sales that you make. In today’s economy, it can be harder than ever to convince customers that they need to purchase big ticket or luxury items. One thing that can certainly help, however, is making certain that your products are displayed in the highest quality lighting possible. Retail store LED lighting is a superior option when it comes to light quality, and what you might not realize is that it is actually a very affordable choice.

LED lighting is surprisingly affordable to purchase and is also quite easy to install. Better still, however, you will find that LED lights require very little power and give off very little heat, which makes them incredibly eco-friendly and a great way to save money on your electric bill. You will also find that LED lights require significantly less maintenance than fluorescent and incandescent lights, which can also go a long way towards helping to increase your bottom line.

Of course, while saving money is a great reason to upgrade your light fixtures, you will find that retail store LED lighting offers greater benefit than just a smaller bottom line on your expense sheets. One of the things that retailers, homeowners, and workers alike enjoy most about these lights is that they offer a clearly superior light quality. When you choose a natural white LED light, you will find that colors become more natural and more vibrant. Reds become redder, blues become bluer, and you can showcase your products without the harsh artificial yellow tints that accompany fluorescent and other lighting choices.

If your business has a number of shelves that are dimly lit, you will find that low profile lights and LED strand lights can be the perfect option. Designed to provide even lighting in even the smallest spaces, these lights can help illuminate every item on your shelves. When your products are hidden in the shadows, you will find that the chances that your customers are going to pick them up for purchase decreases considerably. Retail store LED lighting can showcase every product in your store, which helps the customers to sense that you are confident in the products that you have on offer. It is crucial to remember that the customer’s perception of your store is everything.

Showcasing your products in a way that helps the customer see them clearly can really benefit virtually any business. Whether you are selling homemade baked goods, jewelry, or computers, you want your customers to feel that they have a good idea of what your product offers and why they need to purchase it. Retail store LED lighting comes in virtually every shape and size, from under cabinet lighting to strips and low profile lights. Take the time to really examine all of the options on offer and to consider what they could help you do for your business. When you want to decrease expenses and increase sales, the right lighting might just be the perfect way to do it.

As you may already be aware, the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd Frank Act, went into effect on October 1st. This legislation directly addresses debit card transaction fees and the caps that have now been levied. Now, no matter how debit cards are processed in your business, the maximum fees that will be charged to your processor is $.21 +.05% ( and in some cases for issuers that provide additional security measures, there can be an additional $.01). Now, make sure you totally grasp those figures. These are what the processor will be charged for processing those transactions but what you are being charged can vary widely.

There are also some caveats to the fees discussed above. These “maximums” referred only apply to those banks that are considered “regulated” which means they have assets in excess of $10 billion. Non-regulated banks do not have a maximum on debit/check cards. Currently, there is no “list” available of which banks are regulated and non-regulated. Now, let’s face it, as a business owner do you really have the time or need to be this concerned about all of this? I’m certain that if one felt so inclined, thorough research on the internet, could probably provide some information for you. But, is this something that you really want to pursue? I didn’t think so.

Let’s discuss debits a bit more to give you a better understanding. If you are on any kind of tiered pricing model, you will never know exactly what you are being charged for swiped debit cards. Tiered pricing is, quite frankly a fairly antiquated form or pricing but many merchants are still priced this way. Your processor can place all the different card and transaction types in any category they deem appropriate or, translated a different way…more profitable for them. This, of course, would also apply to debit card transactions as well.. This is good for them and, of course, not so good for you as the merchant. The only way you will ever know for sure, what these, or any of your card transactions are costing you, is to be priced on Cost-Plus or Interchange-Plus pricing. I’ve written on this many times before but just to reiterate, Cost-Plus pricing is the most transparent form of pricing and the best way to more fully understand all your costs. If your business is not currently priced this way, change processors now but, make sure to do your own due diligence in the process.