Merchandising Know-How: Test Your Retail IQ — Shopping Psychology

Here’s a chance to test your retail IQ and find out how much you know about “shopping psychology.” We’ll give you the answers next week!

1. Which of the following fields determines if a retail store “works” or “doesn’t work”?

Retail anthropology

Retail Psychology

Marketing

Market Research



2. What color has market research found makes customers feel like spending money?

Red

Dark green

Light purple

Neutrals

3. According to Paco Underhill, which is the worst location for a retail store?

Next to a competitor

Next to a bank

In a shopping mall

On a main shopping thoroughfare

4. What is important about the “transition” zone (the first 15 feet inside the door) of a retail store?

It is the space in which the store’s most popular products are displayed.

It is the space in which a salesperson offers assistance.

Before this space, shoppers do not feel they are inside the store yet.

After this space, shoppers are considered potential buyers.

5. Upon entering a store, most shoppers head in what direction?

Left

Right

Straight ahead

It depends on the store.

6. Which of the five senses is NEVER engaged in persuading customers to make purchases?

Touch

Smell

Sight

Sound

Taste

None of the above

7. Which of the following “theories” helps to determine aisle width in retail stores?

The Invariable Right

The Decompression Zone

The Body Factor

The Butt Brush

8. Marketers plan campaigns to appeal to which side of the brain?

Left

Right

Neither

Both

9. According to experts, what is the best layout for a retail store?

Placing the best bargains at the front of the store.

Placing the most expensive items at the front of the store.

Placing the store’s signature item at the back of the store.

Placing the store’s signature item at the front of the store.

10. Which of the following is NOT an explanation for the difference in men’s and women’s present shopping patterns?

Primitive hunting and gathering societies

Left-brain versus right-brain thinking

The female nesting instinct

All of the above

Want to see how you did so you know just how much merchandising savvy you have? Of course you do! Click here to pull up the answer sheet.

Sharon Leicham is the creator of The MerchandisingHUB, the author of “Merchandising Your Way to Success” and “How to Sell to Women” and is a regular columnist for SNEWS® writing on merchandising and marketing topics. You can access all of her columns by going to www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/merchandising, where you will find tons of information targeted at the needs of the independent specialty retailer. You can email us with questions and comments at merchandising@snewsnet.com.

For more retail training support and know-how, be sure to check out the SNEWS® Business 101 tools and stories, including our 10-part Retail Merchandising Training series produced by SNEWS®, including a useful online calculator for performing the most common retail merchandising calculations — free to All Access Subscribers.