"My mind sees that I am nothing, my heart sees that I am everything, between these two poles my life unfolds."

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Supermarket Secrets

Simcoe Fall Fair 2010

The other day when I went into the neighbourhood grocery store I generally frequent, (Sobey's in this instance) it was immediately evident that I didn't know where the heck anything was!! They're undergoing a re-vamp and all the aisles have been shuffled about. I try not to do my major grocery shopping there anyways, saving that for the Wholesale Club or Walmart, but it's close to home and I know where everything is - making it a great place to dash in for something.... not anymore, or at least not until I figure out where they've hid everything!

There's of course a psychology to the way grocery stores are laid out. It's no accident that the pet food is now located directly across the aisle from the soda pop - but for the life of me, I don't know why! I worked with someone once who'd owned numerous businesses and I remember him telling me studies have shown most shopper's will tend to turn right upon entering a place of business and that most stores therefore set themselves up accordingly. I did a bit of research over the past few days - and it's actually an intriguing subject. Here's one fascinating look at some of the psychology behind the design.



Is there a psychology behind the way you shop?

24 comments:

  1. I love food shopping.I pretty much buy a lot of the same foods week after week, but must admit that I'm also a sucker for trying new promotions! I also traipse up and down every aisle, and treat every label like it's a thrilling novel, poring over them for ages. I almost keel over with excitement when I see one of my favourites on special offer. Dear God, I really need to get out more like normal people...

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    1. Lol, I wish I could catch some of your enthusiasm! I detest grocery shopping - it's not so bad once I get there, but the thought and act of going - also the putting away of everything - yuck! I know a lot more people like you who enjoy it though.

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  2. That is a great video, and so true! I watched some show on TV about this (can't remember what it was!) and was quite surprised by some of the things I learned. Now that I know all their secrets and strategies, you'd think I'd be a smarter shopper and avoid the aisles. Nope. I still go up and down every aisle searching for something new, different, or on some super sale. More often than not, I don't pick up very much in those areas, but like Sulky Kitten, I really enjoy shopping (hate putting things away when I get home) and get just as excited as she does when something I like goes on sale or has some special offer to it (looks like I should get out more, too, LOL). The smartest thing I do, though, is ALWAYS bring a list along. I may pick up an item or two extra but I stick to the list for the most part. Thank goodness for some type of discipline.

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    1. Martha, So you are another one who enjoys shopping for groceries...!! I'll never understand people like you, lol!! There's a lot of psychology behind how stores are laid out - grocery stores in particular - and I also find it really fascinating. I have another video that I'll post tomorrow which delves further into this subject. Taking along a list is a very smart move - at least that way you have some sort of game plan.

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  3. Interesting clip. Freya and I just nipped into the supermarket for some dog biscuits. £46.00 later...!

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    1. Ouch! Sometimes I think my dog eats better than my kids ever did!

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  4. Very,very good. Here is another thing I do to keep more money and not put on to much weight. I make the grocery shopping a quick trip, list or no list. If you linger you will talk yourself into things, with the help of all there little tricks. Lights, music, smells, and don't they say we eat with our eyes first.
    Lisa

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    1. Thanks Lisa, I think you make an excellent point - keeping it to quick trip makes great sense.

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  5. You mean huge supermarket chains and the food industry are NOT our friends? But they're so NICE to us!

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    1. I know - with all the soft lighting and muted colours you'd almost think they really cared about us and our shopping experience :)

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  6. Very informative clip when you think about how a supermarket is laid out.

    They are designed like a trap to extract the money from our wallets by luring us to the unhealthy products they sell in those centre isles.

    I don't know if its true or not but years ago it was claimed the supermarket "music" contained subliminal messages to get us to buy certain products.

    Just remember, stick to the OUTSIDE isles for the healthy food.

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    1. It's annoying to think they are so calculated, but it appears they are and we are merely their pawns.

      The music that Sobey's plays is unfortunately usually quite annoying - I feel like they're trying to get me to hurry up and leave!

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  7. Jane, there is an award for you on my blog :)

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  8. I shop exactly as the clip recommends--sticking to the periphery of the stores. I only go down aisles when I need soap, kleenex, tp, stuff like that. And I only buy that on 15 % off Tuesday at Save-On and 10% of at Safeway. I also always go left when I enter a store! Wonder what that means??!! The Oliver Square Safeway has an entrance that opens right into the produce area--that's interesting, and refreshing. The Save-On on Jasper and 109 Street also opens into the produce section. I wonder if the part of town has something to do with that.

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    1. Dianne, I really need to make a point of capitalizing on the Tuesday specials. Is it every Tuesday at Save-On? I don't know what it says about you - are you left or right-handed? I'm left, but I still tend to go right (I'm actually quite ambidextrous) A number of videos I watched re this subject, mentioned that - produce makes you think fresh and healthy. The Save-On and Sobey's in my part of the west end, open directly to the produce section, but at Safeway's it's the bread section.

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  9. This was interesting. I always wondered why milk was always at the far end of grocery stores. A tidbit for the retail parking lot. It drives my wife crazy but I usually always get front space parking. The secret is do not turn down a lane that you normally would turn down. It is proven that most people follow the same pattern in a parking lot. So when I feel like this is the lane I should turn into, I will instead skip it and go one or two lanes down. Works like a charm almost every time.

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    1. It's all a conspiracy, lol!! I will be trying out your theory over the next while - most intriguing and I really hope it works for me :)

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  10. Ao THAT' why I always have to bend down so low to get the oatmeal! I wondered why it was always on the bottom shelf. Also I can't believe some of the music is supposed to be effective??? Usually it is such crap you just want to rush screaming into the street. Maybe that's the point though. You rush out after grabbing the most expensive items. Hmmm. Fascinating!

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    1. Isn't it amazing that natural products are not the money makers? It's real food and good for you... but it turns out they make the most money selling highly processed junk. Sadly, I guess that's what most people are buying. I agree - most grocery stores play horrible music in my experience.

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  11. Save-On's 15% Tuesday is the 1st Tuesday of the month, as is Safeway's 10% Tuesday. I'm right handed. Maybe I'm left-brained?!

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    1. Thanks Dianne, I'm going to mark this on my calendar.

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  12. I make lists and always try to get local organic and fresh!!!

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    1. Hi Patty, Lists definitely seem to be the way to go and I agree that local organic and fresh are always the best choice - unfortunately, it's not always possible to get a lot of organic produce here in the winter months - though I find farmer's markets are a great resource in the spring/summer/fall.

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