Nov 25, 2015
Ever wonder why you bought that ugly sweater?
The way a store looks, sounds, and even smells has a major impact on your spending.
by Molly Wood, Mukta Mohan and Bridget Bodnar

Stores and malls make a conscious effort to create an aesthetic that draws in customers.
John Macdougall/Getty Images
Ever wonder why you bought that ugly sweater? It turns out there’s a science to making sales, and it’s called “retail atmospherics.” The scent, lighting, wall color, layout, and music of a store all have a significant influence on how customers feel and how much they spend. Some of it is even a little counterintuitive like wanting to buy more from a snooty salesperson. Eleanor Smith wrote about it for The Atlantic.