Factors Influencing Impulse Buying in Retail Stores

Impulse buying is a widely pervasive phenomenon. Statistics shows that more and more shoppers are experiencing irresistible urge to purchase unplanned and in most cases unnecessary product. Existing researches fall short in identifying most suitable tools that marketers can adopt in order to promote impulsive sales. Therefore, this thesis provides deep analysis of those, controllable factors that influence impulse buying. Particularly four external cues are examined: product display, promotional signage, sensory elements and social atmospherics. Research has deductive approach. First, existing academic articles and research papers are analyzed. Then two different methods of primary data collection are covered. Self-reported online survey is used as a main research tool. Received data of 193 respondents is analyzed in SPSS software using Pearson correlation test and standard multiple regression analysis. Results of store experiment and interviews are covered next. The research concludes that product display has strongest impact on impulse buying, influences and encourages consumer unplanned purchase decisions. Thus, marketers are advised to promote product presentation in the stores