Transformers and Brillo pads, A cautionary tale

[TightEnd]

Sadly, because it stirs my Obsessive Compulsive side, I have to return to the subject of Supermarkets again

In this post

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=10402.0

I commented thus

"To digress for a minute, why, if the supermarkets know this, do they put the following items on those bits that stick out of the shelves, just begging to be bought...ice cream scoops? shoelaces? plastic dog toys? If I were running ASDA I'd put completely different things there to tempt the impulse shopper, but what do I know..."

Well today I was literally stopped in my tracks at my local supermarket. Trundling down the Laundry goods/Household aisle in search of my bi-annual requirement for Toilet Duck I caught sight of a Young Mother trying to calm her toddler. The toddler was agitated, sitting in the front of the trolley.

"Why?" I hear you ask.

Well there at Toddler sitting in trolley height, hanging down from an attachment to the shelves were packets of small Transformer toy figures.

"No" said the mother, repeatedly "you cannot have one, I'll get you a lollipop instead"

At this point she looked at me, embarrassed. I gave her a shrug and a sympathetic smile. Or so I thought. It did though seem to have the effect of sending her off scurrying towards the check-outs. Neverends.

Anyway back to the subject. This supermarket is a busy supermarket, high traffic and frankly not the most pleasant customer experience. Especially so for anyone with children. What on earth do Tesco, for it is they, think they are doing by assaulting children's senses at head height with frivolous toys seemingly placed to cause distraction and upset for the parent customer?

I was pondering this, narrowly avoiding a pensioner in the Bread aisle,when a few minutes later my journey led me to the Alcohol section

Once again protruding from the shelves were attachments, adorned with items to tempt the impulse shopper into purchase.

"What" I wondered as I approached tentatively "are they going to be tempting me with here. Corkscrews? Cocktail shakers? Something alcohol related surely"

In fact I think I said the last bit out loud as the store detective appeared on the scene

but no, there, tempting me on the alcohol aisle they were.

Magnificent, wiry and no doubt tremendous value for money.

Brillo Pads.

I mean, wtf?

Who on earth thinks this up? Does a Brillo Pad salesman for the company that makes Brillo Pads

(brief pause whilst I google Brillo pads, back in a tic)

Aha got it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brillo...

so what exactly does the salesman for Church and Dwight Inc the manufacturers of Brillo Pads have to do to get his products placed in the Impulse attachment on the Alcohol aisle?

"Morning Mr Tesco manager, I've got sixteen boxes of Brillo Pads outside, If you place one box worth on the Alcohol section I'll give you a return flight to Vegas for 4"

"That's a deal Mr Salesman, I'll move the Transformer toy figures right away"

I mean, life just baffles me sometimes. I left, no doubt minus a few purchases..without discovering which aisle the Cocktail Shaker attachments could be found.

 

[cia260895]

obviously they are put there for the alchies who cant be arsed to go round the whole store.. well they need to clean their teeth with something strong dont they??

[Bongo]

My mate manages a team of people who do this for a living.

Do you want me to ask him?

I also note you're not buying toilet cleaner at night

[TightEnd]

My mate manages a team of people who do this for a living.

Do you want me to ask him?

I also note you're not buying toilet cleaner at night

yes please

what are people who do this for a living called?

Night-time..well er yes lol

[Laxie]

To be honest, if I'm looking for something specific and it's on one of those attachments, you can be sure I won't find it.  Over the years (as a mother of 3) I've mastered the techniques of avoiding and/or ignoring them.  Now the kids are grown and it's not an issue, but my brain hasn't forgotten the 'early years' training.  God help us if we need brillo pads...LAST thing I'm thinking of in the drinks section!   

[AndrewT]

God help us if we need brillo pads...LAST thing I'm thinking of in the drinks section!   

And I would imagine this is the point. It's the same reason why you'll go in the supermarket one day and find everything has moved. The supermarket does not want you going in, going to the five shelves for the five things you want and then leaving. They want you to go up and down every aisle so you may be tempted by stuff.

Now, obviously if they did this with something you buy every time you go in (milk, bread) it would piss people off immensely. But do it with things you'll only buy every now and then (brillo pads, batteries etc) and they won't notice so much, and you'll get them wandering round bits of the store they may not otherwise do.

This is all a guess - it could just be related to the reason why mousetraps are set with cheese.

[Nakor]

Tesco the power hungary company they are, have a funny policy for stocking of the aisles and the general what goes where.

The overall layout of the shop is scientifically developed and tweaked over time.  But the layout of each individual fixture they will offer to "Category managers" of their suppliers.  Part of the sell in for new ranges in most area's of a store can be influenced or even dictated by proposals from those offering stock.  Obviously there is fierce competition for this influence.

The new Out of Aisle protrusions are just another way of Tesco offering novel points of sale, guaranteeing higher footfall etc.

As an aside, tucked away in central England Tesco have a huge hanger that contains 2 fully functional shops, where layouts are agonised over, I am sure much discussion was had on the position of Optimus Prime down the toilet duck aisle or the Brillo pads down Wines and Spirits - sadly as usual they got it wrong for us - but for them oh so right.

[barhell]

Down my local supermarkets alcohol section they tend to have hanging displays of nut's, beef jerky, gaviscon tablets and headache pills all of which are quite apt.