Environment

The environment of a store has a big influence on what you buy and varies depending on the type of store. For example, in high end stores that sell expensive jewelry and clothing are usually open and spaced out. The way in which the items are displayed, such as jewelry in nice cases, and the way in which items are placed gives a sense of elegance. Openly spaced stores often appear to be of a high quality. Walmart, for example, does not have a nice or high end appearance and the type of store it is and its prices reflect that. The way in which a store is decorated also has an influence. In a store for kids, the colors could be brighter whereas a store directed at older customers would be more conservative. Another example is that many stores put "impulse buys" right next to or near the cash register. At the grocery check out, there are items such as candy and drinks and some people will buy these items just because they're waiting and have nothing else to do. These items are inexpensive, but have a high mark up. Overall, stores create an environment or appearance geared towards the types of people who go to their store so that they have a better chance of making a profit.