Bringing light out of the shadows

LITECRAFT is the lighting store where TV's Colin and Justin are shown enthusiastically cooing over the design of the products and their prices.

It is no act just for the cameras. The duo were regular customers at the company's Glasgow outlet way before they became stylists to the nation and were more than happy to genuinely endorse its stock.

It's easy to see why. The main store at Oldham is like a twinkling Aladdin's cave crammed with lamps and lights of all sizes and styles.

It - and five others across the country - opened four years ago as an outlet for stock produced by the Gorse Mill company, which develops, designs and produces stock for a number of high-profile high street chains.

Such is the standard and quality of the product they have just been appointed the official manufacturer of Royal Doulton lighting.

Litecraft head of retail Geoff Filson, said: "The company has been in business for 58 years and we used to have a factory shop, but decided that the public should have access to the latest top quality light fittings at 75 per cent off high street prices.

Commitment

"We are very proud of what we do and our commitment to both style and value."

The store has an eclectic mix of traditional and modern, ornate and simple, up-lighters, downlighters, table lamps, floor lights and all dominated by a giant central chandelier - a trademark of all their stores.

Most are their own design and they are just back from Britain's biggest trade lighting exhibition in Birmingham where all the latest trends were showcased.

Geoff said: "We try to stay ahead of the game, to see what is coming in and pick up on the major influences from Europe and develop lines accordingly.

"We in Britain are way behind when it comes to lighting. When we are re-doing a room we will first of all consider the walls, then the flooring and then the furniture and curtains and right at the end, probably just as the money runs out we get round to the lighting and go and buy a couple of shades!

"But really the lighting needs to be thought about at the outset because it can make such a difference. On the Continent it is much more an integral part of a style. We are changing, but are still a long way behind."

Statement

Impact pieces like the opulent red chandelier make a real statement - a hotel in the Midlands has just ordered one with 30 arms - and sit side by side with more subtle designs.

They supply several developers and many interior designers have discovered the treasure trove of Litecraft's first floor where you can pick up stylish pieces, sometimes returned stock from big name stores, other times cancelled orders. The bargains here are genuinely impressive.

Fittings you may have seen elsewhere you can pick up for a quarter of the price. A recent top seller is a black, five-arm chandelier for just £59, compared with the £200-plus it retails for elsewhere.

Geoff said; "People come to us because they know that they get great design and great value for money and that our stock is always changing. We opened Litecraft to let the public access to this whole lighting world and they love it."

Litecraft is at Gorse Mill, just off Broadway at Chadderton. Take Junction 21 off the M60.

Check out the range at litecraft.co.uk

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