Setting up a high street business is a complex operation. Identifying an ideal location, the procurement of start-up costs, calculating turnover projections and working out the bottom line are all prerequisites of a potential business idea. An important facet sometimes overlooked in this initial phase is how the lighting of a business premises can affect the success of any commercial concept.

The illumination of a retail unit, especially one providing a recreational service, can be the difference in either enticing passing footfall over the threshold or being completely ignored. This is the point where I get all new-age on your ass and broach the subject of colour therapy.

The energy relating to each of the seven spectrum colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, resonates with the energy of each of the seven main chakras/energy centres of the body. If you can imagine the chakras as a set of cogs/wheels, like the workings of a clock or an engine, each cog/wheel needs to move smoothly for the clock/engine to work properly.

Colour is simply light of varying wavelengths, thus each colour has its own particular wavelength and energy.

Colour is absorbed by the cells of the human body into the ‘magnetic energy field’ or aura that emanates from an individual. Colour energy has widespread effects on the whole body thus affecting a person’s physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.

Specifically, red relates to the base charkra (very popular with certain retail outlets along particular streets in Amsterdam!), orange the sacral chakra, yellow the solar plexus chakra, green the heart chakra, blue the throat chakra, indigo the brow chakra (sometimes referred to as the third eye) and violet relates to the crown chakra.

At this time of year when the night closes in early, a skillful use of colour lighting can act as a magnet for custom while ‘healing’ those that walk by. Far out man!

This picture of the now defunct (there goes the theory!) Unruly Hair Studios, which was located on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, is a shining example.