Here’s a tip from The News & Observer (February 28,2010 – Raleigh, NC).

We aren’t including a by line or a credit because we couldn’t find one.  But it’s on page 3E and it’s helpful so we are passing it along.

The writer stopped in to Trader Joe’s for just three items so bypassed the hand baskets at the door.  By the time the shopper got to the back of the store, arms were full of items and the shopper was wishing he/she hadn’t passed up the shopping baskets.  But guess what?!  There was a stack of baskets at the back near the coffee counter.  Shopping continued.

The writer goes on to mention a discussion about this phenomenon in a book called “Why We Buy”, written by retail expert Paco Underhill.    Mr. Underhill says that people will stop shopping if they can’t hold any more items in their arms.  By putting a stack of baskets in the middle of the store, you give them a chance to continue shopping and ultimately increase sales.

So – here’s a question for you.

If you have baskets or carts at the front of your store…

do you have them available at other locations as well?

Thanks to The News & Observer for passing this tip along.