Pagazzi: Illuminating Scotland’s Homes & Businesses Through Family Tradition

From its humble beginnings in a small shop in Scotland to becoming one of the UK’s largest independent lighting retailers, Pagazzi is a shining example of how passion, vision, and family values can drive business success. The company’s journey, spanning over 40 years, reflects the evolution of a small family business into a nationwide brand, while maintaining its core ethos of offering high-quality, affordable lighting with a personal touch.

Paul Andrews spoke to Laura Pagan, the founder and her daughter, Rebecca, the Commercial Director, to find out more.

Pagazzi was born in 1980 when Laura, a young entrepreneur from Glasgow, decided to follow her passion and start a business.   As Laura explains, “My husband Alan and I had worked hard for a number of years, selling all manner of products at local market stalls, saving all the time.  Thinking about starting a business was always on my mind and at that time the thoughts turned to cards and stationery or lighting.”

Laura, whose surname inspired the business name, saw a gap in the market for high-quality, stylish lighting solutions that were both affordable and accessible. She opened her first store in West George Street, Glasgow, focusing on a carefully curated selection of lighting products.  As Laura continues, “I was young and naïve at this stage and to be honest didn’t really know much about light bulbs but I was always prepared to work hard and do what needed to be done to make it work.”

In the early days, the shop was small, but Laura’s determination, combined with her keen eye for design and her focus on customer service, quickly set Pagazzi apart from other retailers. She wanted to create a shopping experience that was personal and approachable—one that helped people find what they were looking for to brighten up their homes. This attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction became the cornerstone of the business.

Pagazzi’s first few years were marked by steady growth, with word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers helping to build a loyal clientele. Laura’s dedication to providing top-notch service earned the company a reputation as a trusted source for lighting in Glasgow, and it wasn’t long before she was planning for expansion.

Eventually they took on a second shop.  Alan was continuing to work elsewhere and the nature of the city centre was changing, the council were taking over properties on the street they were on and they were considering their future too.

“Footfall on the high street was declining as the nature and the way that people shopped was changing so we decided to take a look at retail parks,” adds Laura. 

“We were simply looking and in my eyes there was no chance that we could find a location that we could afford as all the outlets were occupied by large, household names.  We drove around a retail park in Uddingston and there was an empty unit.  Alan phoned to enquire about it on the Sunday and spoke to the agent who knew the owners and within two weeks the unit was ours,” explains Laura. 

“This was a busy time all round,” explains Laura “as both girls were at school and Alan took a couple of weeks off work to help us set up and he stayed and we have continued to work together ever since.”

The early 2000’s saw growing demand for their unique products and a successful first decade under her belt, Laura decided to open a second store in Braehead, near Glasgow. This new location was a significant step forward, moving Pagazzi from a local brand into a more prominent regional player in the Scottish lighting market.

The Braehead store also reflected a shift in Pagazzi’s product offerings. As the business grew, Laura expanded the range to include not only lighting but also home accessories and furniture, providing customers with a more comprehensive home décor shopping experience. The company was no longer just a lighting shop—it was becoming a destination for home style enthusiasts.

By this time, Pagazzi was sourcing products from across the globe, bringing international designs and trends to Scottish customers. Whether customers were looking for sleek, modern fixtures or classic, timeless designs, Pagazzi became known for its variety and ability to cater to different tastes and styles.

As Pagazzi continued to grow, it remained, at heart, a family business. Laura’s hands-on approach to running the company ensured that it maintained the same personal service and commitment to quality that had been its foundation. Her family was closely involved in the day-to-day operations, helping to foster a strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose.

The close-knit, family-oriented culture within the business allowed Pagazzi to thrive. Laura instilled in her team the importance of customer relationships and the belief that lighting was more than just a practical necessity—it was a key element in creating a welcoming, comfortable home. This mindset resonated with customers, many of whom returned to Pagazzi time and again for their lighting needs.

The early 2000s marked the beginning of Pagazzi’s expansion beyond Scotland. Buoyed by the success of its stores in Glasgow, the company opened locations in cities across the UK, including Aberdeen, and Manchester. Each new store brought Pagazzi’s signature style and service to a broader audience, while maintaining the family-run ethos that had made the original Glasgow shop such a success.

The company’s growth was carefully managed, with Laura and her team ensuring that each new store offered the same high-quality products and personal service that had built the brand’s reputation. By maintaining this consistency, Pagazzi was able to expand without losing the customer-first approach that set it apart from larger, more impersonal retailers.

It was at this time that Rebecca joined the family business, despite that never having been her intention.  As she explains, “I went to the University of Strathclyde to study marketing and then went to do a ski season in Canada as I never wanted a big corporate job and all that entails as I had grown up seeing the life that Dad had in that corporate world.  In Spring 2009 as the ski season was coming to an end I called Mum and said that I was coming home but she explained that the recession was challenging and that there were few graduate jobs, so I decided to stay in Canada.”

“Eventually I returned to Scotland to look for a graduate job but after two weeks was struggling to find anything and I remember Dad telling me to sort myself out and go to the office as there were things that I could help with.  I did all sorts of work, helping the marketing team laminate signs for the shops, grew into the marketing manager role and then helped Mum as she was bringing in new products and launching our own brand,” she adds.

Around this time, Pagazzi launched its online store, which I launched and project managed,” continues Rebecca.  “This was really good experience for me as it helped me really understand the business, the products and helped the business by further increasing its reach across the UK. This move into e-commerce allowed the business to tap into a growing demand for online shopping while staying ahead of the competition. Customers could now browse and purchase lighting solutions from the comfort of their homes, with the same ease and assurance they had come to expect from visiting a physical Pagazzi store,” she adds.

It was still not certain that Rebecca would remain in the family business going forward.  As Rebecca explains, “I remember Mum asking me if the business was for me and I said yes but was still not sure that I was planning to stay in the business for the long term.  I loved my role and the products and my passion for the business grew, and I guess that is when I became more committed to the longer term.  I shadowed Mum for three years and as she stepped back from certain roles, I stepped up.  We moved into a new head office in 2017 and that’s when I really did ‘sign up for life’ and made the decision to stay.”

Timing wise the decision came a couple of years before the pandemic and during that time Rebecca learnt all about the different aspects of the business, her role and owner the online presence. 

As she explains, “the pandemic posed significant challenges to the retail industry and with our physical stores temporarily closing and consumer habits shifting, we had to pivot, leaning heavily on the e-commerce platform, ensuring that customers could still access their products despite lockdown restrictions.”

“We lost 90% of our business overnight, the stores were shut and Mum was isolating due to her asthma so I had to get on with it.  By now I had moved into a bigger role within the business and had stepped away from the website but with a team of five we managed and grew the website, packing and shipping orders and doing all we could to meet the demands of our customers.  It was a period where I really got to grips with the nuts and bolts of the business too and sales took off and by the time the pandemic had passed and the stores reopened, I emerged as a version of my Mum with new skills, more passion and a desire to continue to make a difference,” continues Rebecca.

Today, Rebecca is responsible for the digital side of the business and together with Laura, selects new products for the physical stores and the websites and gets more involved in all the commercial projects too.  They get on well and it makes a difference too.  “I want to make a positive impact and we can decide to do something, change the website and within twenty minutes or so see the sales start to come in which is really rewarding,” explains Rebecca, who is now stepping fully into the responsibilities of the Operating Officer role with the support of Laura following the recent departure of the previous COO and Rebecca being the obvious candidate to step up.

Today, Pagazzi stands as one of the UK’s most successful independent lighting retailers, with 11 stores across the country, plans to open more and grow their physical presence further and a thriving online business. Laura and Rebecca’s passion and dedication to quality lighting have created a brand that is trusted and loved by customers throughout the UK.

While Pagazzi has grown significantly since its founding, it remains a family business at its core. Laura’s vision continues to guide the company, and the next generation are now heavily involved in the business, ensuring that it stays true to its roots.

The story of Pagazzi is one of passion, resilience, and family values. From its modest beginnings in a small Glasgow shop to becoming a household name in the UK lighting industry, Pagazzi’s success is a testament to the power of family-run businesses and the importance of staying true to one’s vision, resilience and innovating where necessary.

Two generations are now actively working together to fulfil their strategy, mindful of the values that underpin what they do and the way that they do it, and with an incredible team running 11 stores and employing around 100 staff, this is a family business success story.   Founded on the entrepreneurial spirit of the founders and now taken on by the next generation with the same flair, passion and dedication of her parents. 

Through decades of growth, change, and challenges, Pagazzi has remained committed to offering high-quality, stylish, and affordable lighting solutions and other products for the home such as mirrors, artwork and furniture.

As the company continues to evolve and expand, with Rebecca now firmly committed to following in the footsteps of the founders, its family legacy shines brighter than ever, looking forward to lighting up homes and businesses across the UK for generations to come.