Ever notice that most grocery stores are suspiciously set up the same way?
The maze-like arrangement is no coincidence. It’s some sneaky psychology at work.
The grocery store layout is designed to get you to linger longer and spend more money there.
But there are ways to navigate the grocery store and spend your money only on the things you need, without impulse shopping. When you head to the store, make sure you have a grocery list and that you aren’t hungry.
Then watch out for the following:
Displays located at the end of the grocery store aisles
Endcap displays advertise new or popular products, and it’s likely that foods displayed aren’t on your grocery list. In the summer, stores will have graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars grouped together there. In the fall, it’s anything with apple or pumpkin spice. And just because they’re on the endcap doesn’t mean they’re discounted.
Cooking demonstrations and free samples
Cooking demonstrations and samples may seem harmless, but they’re meant to slow you down and expose you to new products. If you’re easily swayed by the employee handing out the samples, you might end up purchasing something you don’t need.
Store coupons
Although handy for saving some money on your grocery trip, coupons you find on a grocery store app or in the mail aren’t as altruistic as they may seem. Providing coupons for items you may typically buy, as well as items you may be more likely to buy based on your shopping trends, is a tactic designed to persuade you to purchase more. This may be buying new items you haven’t tried, or more of your staples, just because you have the coupon.
Keep using these coupons to your advantage, but check yourself: Do you really need to add all the items from your stack of coupons? Will you be able to use them before they expire? And do you really want to try that, or is it just because you have a coupon for it?
Location of dairy, eggs, meat and staple pantry items in the grocery store
Staple items like dairy, eggs and meat are strategically located in the back or center of the store to spur impulse buys. Stores hope that exposing you to as many things as possible along your hike will result in you picking up a few things that weren’t on your list.
The placement of items on the store shelves
Top shelf is usually reserved for smaller brands, regional brands or gourmet brands. These items help stores differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Second and third shelves from the top are prime real estate. They’re eye level so you can’t help but see what’s on them. In fact, manufacturers will pay a premium for those sacred spots. You’ll likely see higher priced items or items with the highest markup on these shelves. Secondary brands may pay to sit alongside the big names hoping you’ll reach for them instead. Your best bet? Look at the shelf below for similar products at a lower price.
Kids’ eye level shelves appeal to children with brightly colored packaging and eye-catching mascots. Better to leave the wee ones at home than walk out with a box of marshmallow cereal you didn’t plan to buy. If that’s not possible, distract them early and often as soon as you walk in the store.
Bottom shelf typically has store brands, oversized and bulk items. Store brands are typically cheaper, and savvy shoppers know to look down to find them. Just because their price is lower doesn’t mean their quality is. Sometimes the same manufacturer makes both the brand name item and the store brand.
Bulk items are sometimes stocked here to compete with warehouse clubs. Logistically, they’re also a little too big to store anywhere else. When buying in bulk, always check the unit price and comparison shop. Sometimes a smaller sale item actually costs less than the bulk version.
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