Latest news with #HarryWallop
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
7 clever tricks Primark does to keep you walking & buying more than you need – & how to avoid overspending
Plus, how you are prompted to spend before you even arrive GOOD PRI-DEA? 7 clever tricks Primark does to keep you walking & buying more than you need – & how to avoid overspending PRIMARK is famous for its budget-friendly fashion and beauty items, but it also employs some clever tactics to encourage you to spend more. Like many retailers, it uses subtle — and often unnoticed — strategies designed to get you to part with a bit more of your money than you intended. 4 Primark has a number of clever strategies that mean you may part with slightly more cash than you intend Credit: Alamy Dr Jansson-Boyd, who is an associate professor at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Sun: "As a store, Primark uses a high number of well-known marketing aspects that we know customers respond effectively to." Here are some little-known tricks Primark shoppers should know about… 1. CAFES FOR 'DWELL TIME' Primark serves over a million shoppers every day in more than 400 worldwide stores and racks up over £5billion in annual revenue. And experts claim they try to keep customers in store for as long as possible. Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary Primark: How Do They Do It? Consumer journalist Harry Wallop said: 'It's a phrase used in the retail industry 'dwell time'. 'You don't want people to just come in and buy an item and leave. 'You want someone to come in, look for the item, think 'that looks like a nice cafe. I'll stop there, I'll then buy something else'. 'On the way you spot another bit of homewares, it's only £5. 'If you can increase the dwell time you are onto a winning formula and you have justified the high expense of operating a high street store.' Spanning 160,000 square feet spread over five floors, the Birmingham store - their biggest worldwide - is certainly a destination in itself. 'Finally a cute collection' shoppers cry as Rita Ora drops summer Primark range It also boasts a hairdresser salon, nail bar, eyebrow grooming and a barber's. 2. NO-BRAINER PRICES While some people head in stores for the haul items, others go just for the store's 'basics'. psychologist Dr Amna Khana added: 'Primark's essential components of their products are generally built on basic, staple products that don't necessarily always change.' Retail consultant Nicole Higgins continued: 'Generally with clothing, 20 per cent of your range will make up 80 per cent of your sales. 'If you go into Primark's lingerie department, they will have hundreds of styles, lots and lots of different colours but probably the items that are making the most amount of money are the five-pack knickers, the basic T-shirt bras. 'They are the core bread-and-butter products.' 3. DELIBERATELY FOLDED ITEMS 4 Touching items means you are more likely to buy it, according to experts Credit: Alamy In any Primark store, you will often see a fair amount of clothing items folded on shelves. While you may think this is done to save space, it's actually just another way to get shoppers to part with more cash. Dr Jansson-Boyd said: "When items are folded, shoppers can't fully see what it is until they go and pick it up and unfold it. "It is well-known that once consumers touch an item, they take on psychological ownership. "This increases the likelihood of purchase as they feel that the item belongs to them." 4. TILL TEMPTATION 4 Tills are often jam-packed with bargain goodies to grab Credit: Alamy If you're an avid Primark shopper, you'll know that you can often spend just as long waiting in the queue as you do browsing the store. But Dr Jansson-Boyd said the technique of "funnelling" people to line up along the tills gives shoppers more time to grab a last-minute item, such as socks, face wipes and shopper bags. She explained: "Along the funnel, there are various small bits and pieces that tend to have a broader appeal. "And as people get bored waiting, they often pick up additional items as they are readily there. "Some of those items are sweets – which people buy as an added treat for a job well done." 5. TRENDY DECOR Primark stores are lively, bright and feel quite youthful - and this is all intentional, Dr Jansson-Boyd said. "The stores use cues for their younger target markets. "This includes neon type signs and slogans on signage such as 'find your amazing'. "This suggests that you can be fabulous by buying something from Primark. "This is the type of messaging that Gen-Z responds effectively to." 6. NO CLOCKS OR WINDOWS 4 If you have ever lost track of time in Primark, you are not alone Credit: Getty Ever find yourself losing track of time when you are browsing in Primark? It turns out that the lack of clocks or windows can be strategic in the retail world. Retail expert Burt Flickinger, told CNN: 'Windowless shopping creates an environment of consumption without distractions. 'When people have a sense of timelessness and comfort, families spend more because they can focus just on the stores and the mall experience.' 7. SOCIAL MEDIA GAME You may have been influenced to spend more at Primark before you even set foot in the shop, according to their own team. Finance director John Bason at Associated British Food, which owns Primark, told Drapers: 'One of the main areas where Primark has got stronger is driving our footfall through social media. 'On Instagram we're up to nearly 7 million followers, which allows for targeted marketing. 'A number of our collaborations have worked very well, including with [influencer] Alice Liveing, and we are working on future collections with others for this year.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
7 clever tricks Primark does to keep you walking & buying more than you need – & how to avoid overspending
PRIMARK is famous for its budget-friendly fashion and beauty items, but it also employs some clever tactics to encourage you to spend more. Like many retailers, it uses subtle — and often unnoticed — strategies designed to get you to part with a bit more of your money than you intended. 4 Dr Jansson-Boyd, who is an associate professor at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Sun: "As a store, Primark uses a high number of well-known marketing aspects that we know customers respond effectively to." Here are some little-known tricks Primark shoppers should know about… 1. CAFES FOR 'DWELL TIME' Primark serves over a million shoppers every day in more than 400 worldwide stores and racks up over £5billion in annual revenue. And experts claim they try to keep customers in store for as long as possible. Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary Primark: How Do They Do It? Consumer journalist Harry Wallop said: 'It's a phrase used in the retail industry 'dwell time'. 'You don't want people to just come in and buy an item and leave. 'You want someone to come in, look for the item, think 'that looks like a nice cafe. I'll stop there, I'll then buy something else'. 'On the way you spot another bit of homewares, it's only £5. 'If you can increase the dwell time you are onto a winning formula and you have justified the high expense of operating a high street store.' Spanning 160,000 square feet spread over five floors, the Birmingham store - their biggest worldwide - is certainly a destination in itself. It also boasts a hairdresser salon, nail bar, eyebrow grooming and a barber's. 2. NO-BRAINER PRICES While some people head in stores for the haul items, others go just for the store's 'basics'. psychologist Dr Amna Khana added: 'Primark's essential components of their products are generally built on basic, staple products that don't necessarily always change.' Retail consultant Nicole Higgins continued: 'Generally with clothing, 20 per cent of your range will make up 80 per cent of your sales. 'If you go into Primark's lingerie department, they will have hundreds of styles, lots and lots of different colours but probably the items that are making the most amount of money are the five-pack knickers, the basic T-shirt bras. 'They are the core bread-and-butter products.' 3. DELIBERATELY FOLDED ITEMS 4 In any Primark store, you will often see a fair amount of clothing items folded on shelves. While you may think this is done to save space, it's actually just another way to get shoppers to part with more cash. Dr Jansson-Boyd said: "When items are folded, shoppers can't fully see what it is until they go and pick it up and unfold it. "It is well-known that once consumers touch an item, they take on psychological ownership. "This increases the likelihood of purchase as they feel that the item belongs to them." 4. TILL TEMPTATION 4 If you're an avid Primark shopper, you'll know that you can often spend just as long waiting in the queue as you do browsing the store. But Dr Jansson-Boyd said the technique of "funnelling" people to line up along the tills gives shoppers more time to grab a last-minute item, such as socks, face wipes and shopper bags. She explained: "Along the funnel, there are various small bits and pieces that tend to have a broader appeal. "And as people get bored waiting, they often pick up additional items as they are readily there. "Some of those items are sweets – which people buy as an added treat for a job well done." 5. TRENDY DECOR Primark stores are lively, bright and feel quite youthful - and this is all intentional, Dr Jansson-Boyd said. "The stores use cues for their younger target markets. "This includes neon type signs and slogans on signage such as 'find your amazing'. "This suggests that you can be fabulous by buying something from Primark. "This is the type of messaging that Gen-Z responds effectively to." 6. NO CLOCKS OR WINDOWS 4 Ever find yourself losing track of time when you are browsing in Primark? It turns out that the lack of clocks or windows can be strategic in the retail world. Retail expert Burt Flickinger, told CNN: 'Windowless shopping creates an environment of consumption without distractions. 'When people have a sense of timelessness and comfort, families spend more because they can focus just on the stores and the mall experience.' 7. SOCIAL MEDIA GAME You may have been influenced to spend more at Primark before you even set foot in the shop, according to their own team. Finance director John Bason at Associated British Food, which owns Primark, told Drapers: 'One of the main areas where Primark has got stronger is driving our footfall through social media. 'On Instagram we're up to nearly 7 million followers, which allows for targeted marketing. 'A number of our collaborations have worked very well, including with [influencer] Alice Liveing, and we are working on future collections with others for this year.'
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Poundland sold for a £1 leaving up to 100 stores at risk
Pepco Group has owned Poundland since 2016, but the firm had to auction the brand off after sales slumped over the past year. The business will continue to be led by Barry Williams, currently managing director of Poundland, it said. Ironic that considering that so many things in @Poundland now, in fact, cost £2.50 that the new owners snapped up the business for £1. — Harry Wallop (@hwallop) June 12, 2025 According to the BBC, the business will continue to operate under the Poundland brand in the United Kingdom and under the Dealz brand in the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland, it added. "We want to sincerely thank all the Poundland team for their ongoing commitment and contribution to the group and wish Barry Williams and his team all the best for the future," said Pepco chief executive Stephan Borchert. Poundland has 825 UK stores and around 16,000 staff and was struggling to compete with other discount stores, with sales down this January and February. Recommended reading: Following the sale, a proposed restructuring will be put to the High Court in England, Pepco said. It comes after Pepco warned that increased employer National Insurance contributions, which kicked in in Apri,l would put added pressure on the chain. Gordon Brothers is a global investment firm which formerly owned fashion label Laura Ashley.
Wales Online
09-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Tesco shoppers share how to get £2.70 meal deal without a Clubcard
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Tesco shoppers have shared how you can get an even cheaper lunch than a meal deal if you are prepared to look for it. The supermarket giant has long been a favourite for its meal deal offerings. However, as prices have gradually increased over time, smart shoppers have found a way to enjoy a full meal deal for just £2.70 - and there's no need for a Clubcard. As the UK's largest supermarket, Tesco draws in more than a quarter of all UK grocery spend. Its popular meal deal, previously priced at £3.00 for Clubcard members and £3.50 for non-members, saw an increase in October 2022 to £3.40 and £3.90 respectively. Read more: Tesco makes change to online shopping Despite this, many still turn to Tesco's meal deals for their value, convenience, and variety during lunchtime. But for those looking to save even more, there's a simple trick - by selecting a £1.50 sandwich, a 60p snack, and a 60p drink, your total comes to just £2.70 – that's 70p less than the standard Clubcard price and £1.20 less than the non-member price. The best part? No Clubcard is needed, either, according to Secrets of Supermarket buyers, hosted by Denise Van Outen on Channel 4. Examples given on the show included a £1.50 cheese and onion sandwich, a 60p nutri grain cereal bar and a 60p bottle of Highland Spring water. This ingenious tip works especially well if you're not bothered about premium brands or if you usually opt for simpler choices. In fact, it's a strategy that's gaining popularity among online money-saving communities. The charm of the meal deal extends beyond mere cost savings, as consumer journalist Harry Wallop points out: "The lunchtime meal deal became a real key battleground for supermarkets because most people do their shopping at weekends or after work. "The lunchtime deal taps into a whole new category of shopper." Tesco is well aware of this appeal. Itsmeal deals are placed in prime positions within the store to ensure ease for customers who are looking to quickly pick up their lunch, while also potentially enticing them to add other items to their basket – a concept known as boosting "footfall", which is vital for supermarkets to enhance their earnings.
