Sell More with Impulse Buys

Customers hate to leave a store empty-handed. With that in mind, retailers work hard to offer the right items for impulse buying. Here are some ways to build your impulse-selling strategies.

The idea that customers will see and buy an item without great thought has fueled the impulse-buying trend. On one hand, shoppers try to curb their impulse-buying habits; on the opposite side of the equation, shoppers boost their egos and feel better with a quick purchase. Either way, you can offer a variety of impulse items and very possibly increase your sales.

It has long been assumed that impulse buying happens at the cash register. For many retailers this is certainly the case and explains the many small items and magazines found on display racks and/or on the counters around the cash registers. Often the most significant of these impulse items are those which are connected to other items sold in your establishment, such as batteries in a toy store. Think about accoutrements or additions to your products and place them near the register. You will also want items that are straightforward and simple; impulse items should not require customers to read lengthy descriptions or select between a wide range of models or styles. Unusual, low-cost items or attention grabbing colors, designs, and language are all particularly effective. Moreover, never underestimate the "cute" factor, as in stuffed animals.