CymryGrooving Through the Shops
April 8th 2008 00:16
I’ve noticed in the past, but never really paid overmuch attention to, the music they play in the shops when you are browsing. Since starting this exploration into musicality, I’ve made it a priority to pay attention to music and it’s influence everywhere I go. Sounds dedicated, but not really that difficult when there’s a ‘sale’ sign involved. I was amazed last night at the way music can be used to subliminally maniuplate the average defenseless shopper.
Female fashion shops often play upbeat music really loud. In the majority of cases, this will have customers smiling away, bopping along with the music, swanning about the store like it’s the dance floor and generally recklessly trying clothes on or buying them. The cheery, disco beat type tunes seem to work quite well here, as long as they don’t stray too close to techno, which I have observed clear a shop out in ten seconds flat. It is amazing how a simple change in song choice can send the customers running and have the grannies glaring from outside.
More sedate shops, such as homeware, giftware and the like, were prone to putting on the softer, gentler music. I noticed a lot of serene, calming, almost ‘new age’ sort of music in these environments. It calms a customer down, puts that gentle smile on their face and encourages them to take the time to browse and find that product that’s essentially ‘you’. Whilst a different tack, I find this also effective in getting someone to make a purchase. If I’ve spent half an hour browsing and finally picked something out, there is no way that I am putting it back down unless it’s on my mantlepiece at home.
Shoe shops were my favourites. One trendy, young store particularly. The music was what I would happily describe as catwalk music. You put a new pair of shoes on in a shop, what do you do? Strut about to see how they feel and what they look like. What better music to put you in a strutting mood than a tune that makes you feel like a model! If you feel confident stomping around in your prospective purchase, you are much more likely to fork over the dough at the counter.
On the flip side, I noticed that the big department stores were largely silent. This stood out to me because I had been paying so much attention in the smaller shops, it was like being suddenly deserted by a close and possibly intimate friend. I hurried in and, feeling moderately unwelcome, hurried out. Whilst there were strains of music filtering down from the sound and video department, I felt a little like I was listening in to someone else’s phone call and was uncomfortable enough that I didn’t even buy some Tic Tacs. So having it is definitely a go, but the correct song choices are a must, it seems.
Female fashion shops often play upbeat music really loud. In the majority of cases, this will have customers smiling away, bopping along with the music, swanning about the store like it’s the dance floor and generally recklessly trying clothes on or buying them. The cheery, disco beat type tunes seem to work quite well here, as long as they don’t stray too close to techno, which I have observed clear a shop out in ten seconds flat. It is amazing how a simple change in song choice can send the customers running and have the grannies glaring from outside.
More sedate shops, such as homeware, giftware and the like, were prone to putting on the softer, gentler music. I noticed a lot of serene, calming, almost ‘new age’ sort of music in these environments. It calms a customer down, puts that gentle smile on their face and encourages them to take the time to browse and find that product that’s essentially ‘you’. Whilst a different tack, I find this also effective in getting someone to make a purchase. If I’ve spent half an hour browsing and finally picked something out, there is no way that I am putting it back down unless it’s on my mantlepiece at home.
Shoe shops were my favourites. One trendy, young store particularly. The music was what I would happily describe as catwalk music. You put a new pair of shoes on in a shop, what do you do? Strut about to see how they feel and what they look like. What better music to put you in a strutting mood than a tune that makes you feel like a model! If you feel confident stomping around in your prospective purchase, you are much more likely to fork over the dough at the counter.
On the flip side, I noticed that the big department stores were largely silent. This stood out to me because I had been paying so much attention in the smaller shops, it was like being suddenly deserted by a close and possibly intimate friend. I hurried in and, feeling moderately unwelcome, hurried out. Whilst there were strains of music filtering down from the sound and video department, I felt a little like I was listening in to someone else’s phone call and was uncomfortable enough that I didn’t even buy some Tic Tacs. So having it is definitely a go, but the correct song choices are a must, it seems.
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Comment by GlenB
Raw Fish
Comment by Cymry
Musicality
Hope that helps!