Study: Impulse Purchases Drop in Self-Checkout Lanes

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Self-checkout lanes have a dramatic impact on impulse purchases, according to the findings of IHL Consulting Group’s North American Self-Checkout Systems study. On average, impulse purchases made by women drop by 32.1% in a self-checkout environment as opposed to a standard checkout. The drop in men’s impulse purchases isn’t as dramatic, at 16.7%. At staffed checkout lanes, women bought impulse items 24% more often than men in the study, while women at self-checkout lanes bought impulse items only 6% more often than men. The only categories where men outdid women in making impulse purchases were chips and salty snacks. The study also found that shoppers who “really like” self-checkout aisles are also partial to certain products and brands, including bottled water, chocolate candy, salty snacks, mint/gum and batteries, as well as the M&Ms, Doritos, Altoids, Trident, Energizer and Duracell brands.

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