Pile 'em high, watch 'em fly

In the supermarket on the weekend I found myself in the lemming-crush that forms when consumers are deprived of a shopping day - 24 hours hanging out for a visit to the mall.

It got me thinking about the way our surroundings are designed to sell stuff. The people who run them know exactly where to place the product to entice you to pick it up. They have learned a bunch of things which I will share with you over the next few days.

First thing they learned was "Pile em high, watch em fly." Pile product up - it doesn't matter what it is - near the front of the store and it literally flies out the door. Why, we can only speculate. I learned this while doing a consultancy for the NSW liquour traders several years ago. They were wanting to move into the world of modern "merchandising", so I took them there.
Why do they fly when you pile em high?

Body language.

It looks like there's a good deal going. It may not be a good deal, but people don't have their analytical mind fully functional while out shopping.

The best fruit shops, fish shops, car retailers, etc. all know - a lot of product draws the buyers.

Do you have a lot of product piled up near your 'front door'?
Cheers!