THE owner of a new store in Cairns specialising in LED lighting is planning a nationwide chain. 

Cathy Tannock of Luminous Lights said the response had been phenomenal and she was hoping to open similar outlets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand in the next six to 12 months.

Ms Tannock believes the shop at The Pier shopping centre is a first.

"Already there are negotiations in place to open other outlets throughout the nation," she said.

The store in the former Apostrophe book shop, which specialises in LED home decor and garden lighting, children’s lighting and event and wedding supplies, has been opened for 12 weeks and Ms Tannock said trading had been
surprising.

"The response to the store has been overwhelming," she said.

"When I was first started setting up and turning the lights on, I couldn't keep people out of the store because they were so keen to see them.

"One customer calls my place The Moth Shop.

"As well as being a hit locally, I am already delivering throughout Australia and New Zealand.

"The demand is there to open branches around Australia. Visitors from Sydney and Melbourne can't believe that a store like this one isn’t open in their cities.

"It's a massive design trend in the UK and US but has not been embraced in Australia yet."

"This is the prototype and I'll see how it goes," she said.

Ms Tannock said she was able to use the existing bookstore fixtures and fittings and so saved on set up costs.

"It'll probably cost $100,000 to do it elsewhere," she said.

"In the short term I want to get the model right and hope to start expanding in the next six to 12 months."

The lights are reasonably priced, most being $30 to $40 with $74 the most expensive.

There are lights for bowls, table runners, chain lighting, curtain lights, lights for bedheads, LED candles, mobile lights and children’s night lights that are "calm and soothing".

"The lights are cold to touch and so there is no fire hazard. Half (the range) are electric, half are battery," Ms Tannock said.

The store has been specialising in lighting packages for weddings and birthdays.

"The most expensive for a wedding was $800, but it is usually $300 to $400," she said.

Ms Tannock said she was not sure whether to offer franchises or do it herself in partnership with the supplier of the lights in a joint venture.

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