kbb 2020 | Meet the Experts - Shaun Barker
In this instalment of Meet the Expert, we speak to Shaun Barker, Assistant Product Group Manager for furniture lighting at Häfele, who tells us more about this huge growth area and why lighting needs to be given greater consideration in kitchen design.
Tell us about your role at Häfele
"I've worked for Häfele for around five years and moved into the category team three years ago. Before that, I worked in our Supply Chain team. I’ve been responsible for lighting for about 18 months.”
Is lighting a big area for Häfele?
“Lighting is a huge part of our business and in fact, our annual furniture lighting sales are on a similar scale to some of the biggest players in the furniture lighting market.
“The Loox LED plug and play lighting system and our Loox luminaires are Häfele manufactured products, which are developed by a core team of experts with vast industry knowledge and experience. Loox is the biggest system in our range and is responsible for about 80% of our lighting sales.”
What will we see at kbb in your area?
“Loox will be taking centre stage at kbb, as we show the latest developments within the range, as well as what can be achieved with our existing product line.
"At the moment, lighting can be a bit of an afterthought when designing a kitchen, but when considered alongside other areas upfront, it makes a huge difference, especially in terms of functionality and overall visual appearance. It’s also really flexible and can be used across a range of areas from under cabinet and accent lighting, to drawers and cupboard interiors.
“One of the things we’re demonstrating at kbb is how easy Loox is to use and install. Because it’s a plug and play system, it’s essentially a ready to go product that doesn’t need an expert electrician to fit.
“We’ll also be available to explain to visitors about our new Lighting Design Service, which helps customers create a lighting plan for their environment and ensure they’ve got the right products, plus how Loox is included in our Hafele Service Plus Customised service so can also be cut, packed, labelled and assembled to bespoke requirements.
“For those who wish to get more complex and advanced in their lighting designs, we’ll show how Loox can be used with a range of drivers, sensors and controls for a higher specification finish.
“At kbb, we’re also launching some new extensions to our Loox range, these “Loox5” options will include wireless wall switches and technology that allows for pre-programmable lighting scenes of different colours and concentrations. On top of this, we’re unveiling a black version of the ribbon profiles, which is part of a growing demand for bolder, darker colours in the home.”
Want to find out more about the impact lighting could have on your projects? Visit us on Stand S90. Register for tickets here.
