This article originally appeared and was published on AOL.com
It’s no accident products are placed where they are.
Grocers carefully design the floor plans and shelving of their stores using sensory psychology and clever techniques to manipulate consumer behavior. Placement of items is very deliberate and very strategic — and we all fall for it.
Think about the last time you went to the store to restock on milk and came back with three bags full of food. Sounds familiar, right? That’s exactly what your supermarket was aiming for — and here’s how they did it:
1. Staples are placed in the back
Necessities such as milk and eggs are always packed in the rear, so consumers have to walk through the entirety of the store even if they just want to pick up a few things.
2. Flowers and bakery items are in the front
These fragrant and visually appealing products are deliberately placed in the front of the store to activate shoppers’ salivary glands and makes them hungry, which leads them to buy more during their trip. These are also high margin departments, so grocers place them in the front when a shopper’s cart is empty and they’re more likely to add to it.
3. Fresh produce is near the front
These bright and aesthetic items excite the eye, prompting consumers to spend more.
4. Shelving is based on adult shopping habits and children’s habits
Expensive and leading brands are at eye-level, and kid-friendly products like sugary cereals are typically at kids’ eye-level.
5. Foods are paired together
Shoppers are much more likely to buy a complementing item if it’s right next to it, such as chips and salsa, or bread and spreads.
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