While you may not see it at first glance, every aspect of a store is designed in a way to encourage consumers to spend money. Here are some of the tactics that stores use to get you to spend your money.
STORE LAYOUT
The way a store is laid out can impact your shopping habits. For example, two of the most common items people need when they stop by a grocery story is milk and/or meat. By locating these departments at the back of the store, there is a higher likelihood of you passing another product you weren’t planning on purchasing.
ANCHOR PRICE
Placing an expensive item next to a similar, lower priced item is a way that stores get you to splurge more than you usually would. Let’s say you’re looking at two different pairs of shoes. Same color and style, the only difference is the price tag. If one pair is listed $200 and the other is listed at $75, you may think it’s a great bargain to go with the lower priced pair.
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Nothing pushes us into a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ decision like a time crunch. If you walk away to think about it, you may miss out on a great deal. Unless this is an item that you have been planning on buying or have budgeted, you’re better off not buying it. Depending on the product, there may be a similar opportunity in the future.
LARGE CARTS
When shopping with a cart, you are more likely to grab items you don’t really need or wouldn’t be able to carry otherwise. For quick trips, stick to a basket or a smaller cart if they’re available.
VISUAL PROMPTS
Just because something is marked as clearance or on sale with signs and tags, doesn’t mean you’re getting the best deal. Run a quick price comparison to see if you get the same or similar item for an even lower price elsewhere.
