6 Nudges in Stores

Walking around Smith's today in Bozeman, I realized that there are many nudges in the store that I had never noticed before. After reading Nudge by Richard Thaler, many nudges stick out to me more than they had in the past. Below are 6 nudges that I recognized in the 20 minutes that I was in Smith's.

1. Putting dairy products in the back corner of the store

Ever wondered why the dairy section of a grocery store is always in the back corner and as far away from the main entrance possible? This is a very common nudge that all grocery stores use. Dairy is the most sought after product at the grocery store because most everyone buys milk and eggs. Customers are forced to travel all the way to the back of the store to ensure that they see the whole store and pass by products they might not have initially thought they needed. If grocery stores were to put the dairy section in the front, grocery shoppers might not walk the entire store and check out other products.

2. Security notices

Whether or not the store does have a 24 hour video surveillance system, signs like the one above make people think twice before doing something that they know they shouldn't. For example, if someone was thinking about stealing a product for the store knowing no one was watching them and there would be no camera evidence against them, they would be more likely to go through with it. However, just seeing a sign that states there is a 24 hour video surveillance nudges that same person to think about the consequences more clearly if they were to get caught. 

3. "Did you wash your hands?"

On the back of the women's bathroom door, there is a sign that says "Stop: Did you wash your Hands?". This sign is nudging people to take care of themselves. While this sign is not going to force people to wash their hands, it does help remind them that it is something they should be doing for their own personal health. There are also usually signs that say it is mandatory for employees to wash their hands. Again, even though nobody is probably watching you to make sure that you wash your hands, signs like these make you feel obligated to do so. 

4. Impulse purchases

While standing in the checkout line, I noticed all the gum, candy, snacks and drinks on either side of me. Without even thinking about it, I grabbed a pack of gum and a water bottle because I was thirsty. If these products had not be in the front of the store and visible while I was waiting in line, I would most likely not have purchased them. By putting them as eye level at the cash register, people can be reminded that they are hungry or thirsty, and then crave a candy bar or a soft drink because they are available. If they were in the middle or the back of the store, Smith's probably would not sell as many because people pass them looking for something else. 

5. Rounding up change for charity

At the cash register, I was asked if I would like to round up my total to the nearest dollar to support a charity. This is yet another subtle, but powerful nudge. While they are not forcing you to found up your change, you feel obligated to do so as it is less than a dollar, and you feel like the people around you will think you're a bad person if you do not. Plus, it gives you a good intrinsic feeling knowing that you donated, no matter how small the amount may be. This nudge also works because it targets people who are willing to donate, but aren't going to go out of their way to do so. Most everyone must go to the grocery store for food, which makes this a perfect place to implement this type of nudge.  

6. Shopping cart returns in parking lots

Finally, as I was leaving the store, I noticed the shopping cart return slots in the parking lot. Cart returns make it easier for the shopper to return their shopping cart without having to take it all the way back to the front door or just leaving it in the parking lot. Personally, I would not be as motivated to return my cart to the front of the store if there weren't cart returns, and would leave it by my car. But because of this simple nudge, an employee can gather most all of the carts grouped in a couple of areas rather than having to go collect them all around the parking lot. 

Most of these nudges are so obvious that we know they're there, but we don't consciously think about them. There are hundreds around us daily. Next time you're in a store, I challenge you to find as many nudges as possible. I found 6 in just 20 minutes...can you find more?