You’ve entered the grocery maze.
The bakery’s fresh-from-the-oven smells get you as you enter the store. You pick up doughnuts, even though they’re not on your shopping list–or your diet. Two points for the store.
You only want to buy bread and milk, but they’re in the back of the store. On the way, you see a new brand of olives that looks great. Into your basket they go. Two more points for the store.
Standing in the check-out line, you browse a magazine and get hooked on a story. Gotta have it. Two more points for the store.
You’ve been had by Grocery Store Design. Don’t feel too bad–you’re not alone. Eye appeal, layout, music or not, color–all of these play a role in selling groceries. Learning how a store sells can save you money if you know how to shop it wisely.
Typically, the most expensive items are placed at eye level. The bakery is generally placed in the front of the store so its tempting aromas waft over shoppers as they enter. Brightly colored signs hang from shelves, point to items or encase whole shelf units. But guess what? These items aren’t on sale–it’s all to get your attention.
The savvy shopper can work through this maze of marketing ploys with a little advance planning and, yes, some willpower.
Plan ahead
Make out menus for the whole week, including breakfast and lunch items and plans for leftovers.
Make a list
The list should be based on your menus. Check your supply of kitchen staples as well.
Clip coupons
Go through coupon sources–the newspaper, magazines, circulars and your own coupon files–and pull coupons for items you know you’ll need. Avoid taking coupons to the store for items you aren’t interested in; this spurs impulse buying.
Eat first
Don’t shop while tired or hungry, and go alone. Studies show that people who shop when they’re rushed or hungry or with kids spend more. (However, if you shop with a friend with whom you can split bulk items, it can work to your advantage in savings.)
Check for sales
Pick up circulars on your way in the door, and look over the coupons posted. Be aware of coupons available beside items as you shop or coupons placed directly on the product for redeeming at the check-out stand.
Don’t pay for ads
Look at brand names vs. house brands. Even with coupons, name-brand products such as plastic bags or foil may be more expensive than a generic or house brand that’s virtually identical.
Look around
Closely check the price of goods on ends of the aisles. Customers are used to seeing sale items there, and frequently, non-sale items will be mixed in.
Do-it-yourself
Weigh convenience against price when it comes to prepared foods. Cut-up melons can be expensive, but it takes little time to cube a cantaloupe and put it into a container. That’s the same with cubed meat, chicken parts (a substantial savings is there for people willing to cut up a whole bird), shredded cheeses, bread and cracker crumbs and numerous other prepared foods.
———-
Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
