Lightbulb moment: How supermarkets are fooling us
Lights, camera, action. It seems the fresh food section at your supermarket is led by psychology and strategic lighting...
While shopping might seem like a mundane task that doesn't involve much thought, you will be surprised to learn that everything inside a supermarket or grocery store has been strategically placed.
Shopping is a psychological experience involving a distinctive thought process. Buyers, packers, and store managers organise their stores to appeal to shoppers instinctively.
So, while you may be grateful that the bakery is close to the entrance, the store manager or owner strategically located the bakery near the entrance to draw customers in with the smell of freshly baked goods.
We can confidently say that the way supermarkets are organised impacts our purchase decisions.
A shopper recently shared a theory about the lighting inside supermarkets. She was happy with her choice of a watermelon bowl from the refrigerator.
But as soon as she made her way to the next aisle, she noticed that the watermelon, which looked brighter and fresher while it was in the fridge, suddenly looked slightly duller.
Watch the video below, courtesy of TikTok.
@ro_hubrig 🤯 wth… #exposed #checkers #watermelon #illusion #tomfoolery #fyp #tiktoksouthafrica #trick #opticalillusion #deceit ♬ original sound - Ro Hubrig
She was surprised to learn that her theory wasn't just fluff but had some truth.
A social media user, who commented on her video, said they had over 17 years of experience working in lighting. The user shed some light on the woman's theory, saying: "There are different types of light for different products. Red for meat, blue for fish, green for veg and yellow for bakery. It makes products look better which drives up sales. (I worked in lighting for over 17 years)."
Making an informed decision about what you buy and don't should be based on you, not on the retailer. While we can understand why this shopper felt cheated, isn't this what the world of sales and retail is all about: making something attractive enough to make the sale?
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Image Courtesy of iStock