Once a store opening date is set, lighting procurement can come down to one question: “What is the latest date we can place the order?” Getting custom display lighting installed on time also depends on when cabinet dimensions are finalized, who approves the sample, whether drivers and mounting accessories are ready, and whether the installation location is prepared.
At SEEPOSH, we start by establishing when the lighting needs to reach the showcase workshop or project site. We then work backward through design, sample approval, order production, and delivery. This gives the client, showcase manufacturer, and installation team a shared set of milestones and makes unresolved decisions easier to identify early.
Confirm where the lighting will be installed before setting the delivery date
The opening date and the required lighting delivery date serve different purposes. If the fixtures will be fitted at the showcase manufacturer’s workshop, procurement needs to align with cabinet assembly and dispatch. If they will be installed at the store, the schedule needs to align with cabinet placement, power availability, and the installation team’s access to the site.
We first confirm three dates with the client: the store opening or project handover date, the lighting installation and commissioning date, and the date the fixtures must reach the designated location. The plan also needs time for unpacking and checking, fitting the lights, adjusting brightness or aiming, and resolving any issues found along the way.
Tell us whether delivery is to the showcase workshop, a project warehouse, or the store itself. Also specify whether shipments should be separated by floor, zone, or cabinet number. Even when production is complete, an incorrect delivery address or a location that cannot receive the shipment can disrupt installation.
Put cabinet and lighting drawing approvals on the same schedule
Custom lighting and cabinet fabrication depend on each other. Fixture dimensions, mounting hardware, cutouts, cable exits, and driver positions can affect how the showcase is made. Changes to cabinet height, glass frames, or shelf positions may also require changes to an agreed lighting arrangement.
We recommend confirming mounting dimensions and connection details with the design, showcase, and lighting teams before the relevant cabinet parts are fabricated. Proposals can still be evaluated while appearance and lighting effects are being compared, provided the drawings identify which dimensions are approved and which conditions may change.
Give “drawing approval” a specific outcome in the schedule. For example: the fixture position, fixing points, and cable exit shown on a named section drawing have been approved for fabrication. A date marked “drawings sent” does not establish whether those drawings are ready to be used for production.
Allow time for sample feedback and revisions
When a project requires a sample, completing it is one step in the approval process. The sample needs to reach the agreed location and be reviewed with a cabinet, merchandise, and viewing conditions close to the intended installation. If designers, merchandisers, and installers all contribute feedback, their comments need to be consolidated into a clear set of requirements.
We discuss sample preparation and approval according to the project. Before this stage begins, agree where the sample will go, who will review it, who makes the final decision, and when feedback is needed.
If the sample requires changes, include time for the revision, any further sample work or checks, and renewed client approval. Review the approval date when the design changes. We will discuss whether changes to custom dimensions, optics, finishes, or mounting details require another sample or additional confirmation.
Confirm the complete configuration before order production
After the fixture’s appearance is agreed, the light source, driver, control method, connectors, and mounting accessories also need to be settled. A fixture that has arrived without its matching power supply or fixing hardware cannot be installed as planned.
After sample review and proposal refinement, we confirm the order configuration and production arrangements with the client. We recommend linking the approved drawing revision, configuration list, quantities, and delivery requirements, together with any post-order sample delivery or recordkeeping requirements. If a change follows, everyone can see which approved details it affects.
If different areas of the store are at different stages of design, we can discuss whether staged approvals, production, or deliveries are practical. Identify the cabinets or zones in each batch, and confirm how the matching drivers, connectors, and installation information will be supplied with it.
Schedule shipping, receipt, and commissioning separately
Production completion, dispatch, arrival, and installation completion are separate milestones. The project plan should identify the shipping arrangements, the person responsible for receiving the goods, and who will check quantities, models, and accessories. For international shipments, the relevant parties should also confirm transport and customs arrangements and the documents required.
We recommend checking each delivery against its cabinet or zone references before installation begins. The installers also need to know where the drivers will go, how the fixtures will be secured, and whether controls must be configured or light sources aimed.
Adjustable spotlights, rotatable linear lights, and systems with scene control need commissioning time after installation. Once the fixtures are lit, continue checking the merchandise presentation, glass reflections, control functions, and service access. Assign any remaining issue to the person responsible for resolving it.
Use this table to work backward with the project team
The table below starts with opening or handover and works backward through the preceding milestones. Dates should be filled in for the project. We discuss feasible arrangements based on the final configuration, approval progress, and delivery location.
| Milestone, working backward | Required outcome | What to confirm before assigning a date |
| Store opening or project handover | Lighting is ready for the agreed use | Acceptance criteria, participants, and outstanding items |
| Installation and commissioning complete | Fixtures are secured, lit, aimed, and checked with the controls | Cabinet and power readiness, plus installer availability |
| Fixtures arrive at the designated location | Quantities, models, and accessories are checked | Delivery location, receiving contact, batches, and labeling |
| Dispatch | Goods are packed and handed over under the agreed arrangements | Transport, packaging, delivery documents, and receiving conditions |
| Order production and quality checks complete | Fixtures and supporting components match the agreed configuration | Approved drawings, quantities, materials, and supply scope |
| Order configuration and schedule confirmed | Production references and delivery milestones are agreed | Drawings, sample feedback, configuration, and order terms |
| Sample approval, where required | Appearance, lighting effect, and installation questions are resolved | Review location, decision-maker, feedback deadline, and revision time |
| Cabinet and lighting interfaces approved | Relevant cabinet parts have an agreed basis for fabrication | Mounting dimensions, cutouts, fixings, cable exits, and driver locations |
Add this table to the shopfitting project plan, then give each milestone a target date, responsible person, and list of unresolved items. Place any allowance for waiting, changes, or rework at the stage where it may be needed. This makes coordination easier than recording a single final delivery date.
How we assess options when the opening date is close
If time is short, tell us the current project status: whether drawings are approved, which configurations are still being selected, whether another sample is required, and where the lighting must be delivered. We use those conditions to discuss practical design, production, and delivery arrangements.
For example, we can assess whether an established product structure would reduce development work, or whether approved areas can proceed first. Any adjustment needs to account for the cabinet interfaces, required lighting effect, and installation conditions. A change in transport should also be assessed against production completion and the receiving schedule.
Give us a specific date and location when asking us to assess a delivery target. We check the configuration, quantity, approval status, and delivery arrangements for that project. A lead time from one order should not automatically be applied to a different custom solution.
What to send us to begin scheduling
Start with the opening or handover date, lighting installation location, cabinet fabrication progress, current drawing revision, expected quantities, and any decisions still awaiting approval. Even if the information is incomplete, we can begin identifying the decisions and milestones that need coordination.
To prepare the product and system details for a quotation, use our custom retail lighting RFQ checklist. To see how we move from a proposal through production and ongoing support, read about our customization process, then contact us with your target dates and current project status.
Frequently asked questions
Can we discuss lead times before the drawings are finalized?
Yes. We can discuss a schedule based on the current proposal and identify dimensions, configurations, and conditions that remain unconfirmed. Production dates are then confirmed against the approved requirements.
Does the production lead time include samples, transport, and installation?
Confirm the scope and start and end points of each stage separately. The overall project plan should include the required sample approval, production, transport, and installation time. Working backward from the production lead time alone will leave other stages unaccounted for.
Could changing a driver or finish after sample approval affect the schedule?
It could. We need to check whether the change affects materials, dimensions, control compatibility, or sample approval. Send proposed changes to us early so we can confirm whether the relevant milestones need to be revised.
