Semoff says that a study run by Nike showed that adding scents to their stores increased intent to purchase by 80 per cent, while in another experiment at a petrol station with a mini-mart attached to it, pumping around the smell of coffee saw purchases of the drink increase by 300 per cent. "Numbers are pretty outrageous," he says.
— That's Steven Semoff, of the Scent Marketing Institute. Read more at The smell of commerce: How companies use scents to sell their products at the Independent.
While businesses have been doing this in their own way for years and I don’t mind (I think of the oil warmers at TBS or the smells of baked goods in a coffee shop), pumping in more smells to augment what’s on sale just feels off to me like a little too much customer manipulation. And whether the hotel or resort is upscale or budget, I don’t necessarily want my experience to be scented unless I bring my own items for the occasion. One of the best ways around the ‘seduction by smell’ I’ve found is not to grocery shop while peckish and to remember that while coffee is pretty delicious, it rarely lives up to the smells pumped through the air in certain establishments and is better when I get down with my coffee snobbery at home. 🙂 And scenting a toy store like pina colada? Blech! I’d wonder if there was some new Spring Break Barbie funking up the place which would only make me want to hot-foot it outta there more quickly lest my daughter find her and be tempted by them yet again. 😉
I wonder how many grocery stores in the US are doing this? Whole Foods, for instance…I would love to know. I did not read the Time article they reference, I should go look for it.
I’ve held alot of garage sales and I’ve noticed an increase in sales and dollar amount per purchase when I’ve had some foody vanilla B&BW three-wick candle burning. Also, for the early birds, I offer free coffee and cookies while they last. I don’t ask for money for the treats but people often leave some change anyway. 🙂
Wow, let me know next time you have a garage sale! Free cookies!
Lol! I’ll be sure you get an invite. 🙂
I can believe it. And bet the cookies help too.
I’ve noticed that my local IKEA pumps a lovely woody scent through the lower warehouse level. I thought it was the furniture until I went there once and didn’t smell it. Went back and it was there again. It does make going through the store more pleasant.
I’ve also noticed scenting in Las Vegas and DisneyWorld.
Vegas is one of the few places where I really noticed it…some of the casinos are so heavily perfumed that I found it hard to stand.
Vegas literally made me sick. severe migranes. After a day, I drove off the grand canyon. Felt great. Returned to Vegas, more migranes. I think the scent (like a bad can of glade) that the hotel pumped through the casino was one of the primary culprits.
I haven’t been to Vegas in quite a while, but the only “scent” I have noticed in the casinos in Louisiana is cigarette smoke.