Grocery Store Savings

If you're like many people, you stroll through your local supermarket without giving much attention to its design. Most people are not aware of the time and effort that grocery stores put into figuring out which expensive items to place at eye level and so on.

Because there's a strong correlation between an item's location and its price, knowing how to analyze the supermarket layout can help you slash your grocery bills. Savvy Student wants to bring you the 411 about grocery stores so you do not leave the store spending twice the amount you planned too.

Strategically Placed Sale Items

Stores realize their weekly ad specials are what drive customers into the store, so these specials are often placed in the back of the store so you will have to walk through the aisles to get to the prized item – stopping to pick up other items along the way. By stacking sale items in large displays at the end of aisles, the retailer hopes to make up for a lower profit margin with additional sales.

Avoid Impulse Buys

On the other hand, pricey convenience items are often located near the checkouts, where you'll be more likely to make a spur-of-the-moment purchase. The same item may be at another location in the store at a cheaper price.

Beware of Pricey Pairs

Stores sometimes carefully match up two or more grocery items that fit together, pushing a higher-priced selection in the process. If an item is usually partnered together such as salsa and chips, picking up the salsa that is right in front of the chips is more expensive than actually going to the aisle strictly for salsa and other condiments.

Search High and Low

Within the aisles, shelf positioning is also an important factor. Higher priced items will generally be placed roughly within eye level--in the are between four to six feet off the ground. The less expensive items will be placed on either the lower or top shelves--out of first glance area. Private label brands will also be featured at eye level because the store is making a higher profit percentage on that item when compared to its national brand.

Look in the 'Right' Direction

Most people are right handed and tend to reach in that direction so placing expensive items on the right of a comparable item that is less expensive can help get extra sales.

Go Straight for the Milk and Eggs and Don't Stop Along the Way

It happens every time. You run to the store for those essential groceries -- and end up walking out with a dozen bags full of stuff.

There's a reason why the meat, eggs, milk and other staples are located so far from the entrance. Supermarket designers lay out the basics along the perimeter to get customers who stop in to pick up a few things to pass by other tempting foods, linger just a bit longer and hopefully pick up a few things that weren't on the list.

To avoid detours that can tempt you to load up your cart, Savvy Students suggests sticking to the store's perimeter.

The Bottom Line

By taking a little time to analyze the supermarket's layout, you can target the most budget friendly areas and keep more money in your wallet. Visit the website below for additional information on how to save at grocery stores.

http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0210/A-Map-To-Grocery-Store-Savings.aspx

See you at Hannaford,

Savvy Student