The checkout lane is the final and most profitable part of the grocery store. It is a carefully engineered environment. Retailers know that you are a captive audience while you wait in line. They use this opportunity to tempt you with a variety of high-margin, impulse-buy items. Most of these products are unhealthy junk foods. These seven common checkout displays are designed to push these items every single day.
1. The Main Candy Rack
The most prominent display in any checkout lane is the wall of candy. This rack is filled with chocolate bars, gum, and other sweet treats. The store places its most popular and profitable candy at eye level. This makes it very easy for you to grab one at the last minute. This is the oldest and most effective impulse-buy trick in the book.
2. The Refrigerated Cooler
Most checkout lanes now have a small, refrigerated cooler. This cooler is almost always stocked with single-serving bottles of soda, energy drinks, and other sugary beverages. The store knows that a cold, sweet drink can be a very powerful temptation. This is especially true after a long and tiring shopping trip.
3. The Small Chip and Snack Racks
In addition to the main candy rack, you will often find smaller, secondary racks. These are filled with single-serving bags of potato chips, pretzels, and other salty snacks. These “grab-and-go” bags are another classic, high-margin impulse buy. They are designed to appeal to your cravings for a salty, crunchy treat.
4. The Magazine and Tabloid Stand
The magazine and tabloid stand is another checkout lane staple. While not a food item, it is a form of “junk” for your brain. The scandalous headlines and celebrity photos are designed to grab your attention while you are bored in line. They are a classic and very profitable impulse purchase for the store.
5. The “As Seen on TV” Gadget Display
A small, rotating display of “As Seen on TV” products is another common sight. These are almost always cheap, gimmicky, and low-quality gadgets. The store places them at the checkout to trigger a last-minute, curiosity-driven purchase. They are a high-profit novelty item that you would likely never buy if you had more time to think about it.
6. The Gift Card Rack
The large rack of gift cards is also a strategically placed item. It acts as a last-minute reminder for a birthday or a holiday. Gift cards are a huge source of profit for a retailer. They are aware that a substantial percentage of gift cards are never fully redeemed. This means that a portion of the sale is pure, free money for the store.
7. The End-Cap Facing the Line
The end-cap of the aisle that faces the checkout line is another prime piece of real estate. The store will often fill this space with a large display of a seasonal or promotional junk food item. This could be a holiday-themed candy or a new flavor of a popular soda. It is the store’s last chance to hit you with a major, eye-catching advertisement.
The checkout lane is the final and most intense stage of the store’s marketing strategy. It is an environment filled with temptation. The goal is to get you to add one or two high-profit, low-nutrition items to your cart. By being aware of these tricks, you can learn to tune out the noise. You can make it through the line with your budget and your healthy eating goals intact.
What is the one checkout lane item that you find the most difficult to resist? Let us know in the comments!
What to Read Next
- What Grocery Stores Hope You Never Notice About Their Pricing Displays
- 9 Shopping Cart Choices That Predict Overspending Habits
- Why Are Grocery Store Aisles So Narrow?
- The Treasure Hunt Trap: How Stores Use Fake Scarcity to Make You Spend More
- 7 Hidden Discounts Lurking in Your Supermarket Bakery Aisle
The post 7 Checkout Displays That Push Junk Items Daily appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
