Retailer Tricks!

Have you ever wandered into a shop with a list of a few things, only to come out with twice as much stuff? There is a reason for this (1)_____________________________________. And they work!

(2)________________________________________. More popular items are usually in the middle of aisles so that you have to walk further, past more products to reach them. Products that shops want to promote are placed at eye-level or at the end of aisles to get maximum attention. Many companies pay shops to place their products there.

Have you ever noticed that certain shelves in shops look untidy, as if customers have been moving everything around? (3)_________________________________________. You may think that people would be put off by this but retailers often make areas look untidy, so that customers believe they are looking at reduced-price products or a very popular promotion.

Even the way floors are designed can make you spend more. In many supermarkets, the tiles in aisles with expensive items are smaller so that it sounds as if your trolley is moving faster, which makes you slow down and spend more time in that area. (4)____________________________ Other shops remove windows, so that you have less connection with the outside world and are more likely to spend more time shopping. If you can't see that it is getting dark outside, you are more likely to take your time inside the shop.

Retailers would quickly go out of business if we walked straight in, bought what we needed, then walked straight out again. (5)____________________________________________. Similarly, in clothes shops, fitting rooms and cash desks are usually far from the entrance. Shopping malls usually have complicated floor plans so that it's easy to get in, but harder to find your way out. Also separating escalators between floors means you have to walk around the mall to go up to another level. The more time you spend inside, the more money you are likely to spend.

The more time you spend inside, the more money you are likely to spend.

(6)____________________________. Don't let them get away with it!

1. difficult to understand:

2. a basket on wheels:

2. a basket on wheels:

3. a person or business that sells goods: