The Spot

I recall watching a program on the behind-the-scenes world of grocery stores.  I did not know how much effort goes into planning the placement of products in the store to get you to buy more stuff.  As one of the participants in the program put it, grocery store layout is a huge exercise in the psychology of the needs and wants of consumers. 

Suppliers strive to get the best locations possible.  Better locations equal better sales.  The three top product placement locations are line of site on the shelves, the end caps on aisles, and impulse buy areas at the checkouts.  For instance, eggs and milk are two of the most purchased items, and they are typically located at the back of most stores.  To get to the eggs and milk at the story I shop at, I go by the hot food counter, deli, bakery, and fresh produce to get to the milk and egg area.  That’s a lot of opportunities to buy more stuff. 

I believe the placement principle applies to the people in our lives too.  Think about the people we walk by in one day to get where we’re going.  Just like products on the shelf at the grocery store, we have an option with every person we pass in life.  We can walk by and say nothing, act like we do not even see them, or we can engage them and say hi.  Personally, I choose to engage.  Saying hi to a stranger and thank you to someone who helps you most always gets a smile in return.