It never fails — you run to the supermarket for milk, but wind up having to traverse the entire length of the store to get to the dairy aisle. Most grocery stores intentionally design their layouts to serve a purpose: to entice consumers to spend, spend, spend. For instance, stocking sugary sweets at kids’ eye level, staging irresistible baked goods near the entrance, and putting meats and dairy products at the back are all intentional strategies. Even free samples are designed to be delicious detours. However, being aware of these temptations and learning to avoid them can help you curb all that impulse buying and overspending at the register. Sometimes, however, the placement of products speaks more to logistics than deception. Because delivery trucks generally unload at the back of a building, having the store’s refrigeration units near that area makes sense. So, the next time you need milk, why not be smart: order online and have the store staff bring it right to your car.
