How Supermarkets use Marketing Psychology to Make You Spend More

I’m guilty.

I’m always picking up things I don’t need every time I visit the supermarket.

I’m sure you are guilty as well.

However, do you know supermarkets spend a ton of money researching how to get consumers to spend and buy more?

Psychological tactics are often deployed to maximise consumers’ time spent in the supermarket.

Every element of the shopping experience is meticulously designed.

How Supermarkets Make You Spend More

1. Slow Music
2. Small Sized Tiles
3. Daily Necessities
4. Sweets and Chocolates

1. Slow Music

Music can have a massive effect on the human brain emotionally.

For instance, we listen to hiphop and techno music while jogging to improve our speed.

On the other hand, supermarkets play slow music to create a relaxing environment for consumers, tuning them to shop longer and buy more.

2. Small Sized Tiles

One of the most distinct memories I had as a child was pushing the trolley along the aisles in the supermarket.

Little did I know that it was an experience specifically designed by supermarket to increase shopping time.

Pushing trolleys against smaller tiles would create loud ‘clicking’ noises, encouraging to slow down and shop more.

3. Daily Necessities

Have you wondered why daily necessities are often positioned at the end of the supermarket?

You probably would have guessed it by now, it is designed to make consumers to walk through different aisles to lengthen their shopping experience.

4. Sweets and Chocolates

This is such an evil one.

Do you know sweets and chocolates are often placed along queuing lanes so childrens would pester their parents to buy while queuing?

Design Thinking for Website Design

Similarly, design thinking and marketing psychology are extremely important in website design.

Especially when you want to maximise conversions or generate more leads for your business.

It is important we understand how users think so we can align them to our business goals.

What do you think? Do you know other marketing tactics supermarkets use? I would love to hear your thoughts.