Are you aware that retail stores, supermarkets, and malls actually influence you subconsciously with their background music in-store? The thing is that you don’t even know that you actually make buying decisions based on the kind of music that you hear. Aside from the shade of light, the type of furniture, and the colour on the walls of your store, music can also set the mood in-store.
Music can be a sophisticated and powerful tool to influence your mood and change it the way you want to. If you don’t feel good about anything, just listen to your favourite songs or dance to some music. It can help pick your mood up. It can let your heart feel at ease when you’re worried or make you feel positive about the coming day.
You might ask just why music holds that much power over what people should feel. It could be because it’s only natural for the body to react to the rhythm that music presents, which are provided by your pulse or heartbeat. Depending on the type of music that you hear, it would have different effects on your body. That’s why a horror movie is never as scary if it doesn’t have spine shattering sound effects and the most chilling moments.
In retail stores, background music is always a key element in persuading shoppers to stay longer and buy more. The longer they navigate the store, the more chances they will buy something. This is why it’s important to determine just what type of music the target shoppers will enjoy the most.
Here are the effects of using background music in-store:
- It helps customers relax. Studies have shown that relaxed customers are more likely to buy something from your store. However, you have to find the right kind of music that can increase their serotonin levels and make them feel happy while browsing in your store. This is also the reason why having a customised playlist is instrumental in helping achieve this.
- It can sell your products. If you might have noticed, music shops and electronic stores usually have loud music blaring through their speakers. This is to attract the customers’ attention and show them that the store is selling quality products.
- It makes your customers feel that they fit right in. If you go to a store usually directed to the youth with the latest trends of the season, you might hear a lot of songs from the Top 40. This is an effective technique to make customers feel that they are hip enough to wear the clothes in the store.
- It emphasises the feeling of the season. During the Christmas festive season, most retail stores play Christmas music to immerse people into the spirit of the season. Customers tend to buy more from stores with the season’s music than those without the Christmas playlist – providing it’s done right without overkill jingles back to back that get stuck in your head.
- It improves the productivity of the employees. Some studies have seen how employees tend to be more efficient in their work if there is positive and recognisable music playing in the background. This would encourage them to be more polite and to work faster to cater to the needs of your customers.
Retailers and shop owners no longer take these studies for granted. If you want to have an additional influence on your customers aside from your ads and store’s interior design, then music should be it.
Image courtesy of [imagerymajestic] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
