There’s something about seeing a product in its proper environment that triggers the “I want and need that” part of the human brain. I recently experienced this very scientific, chemical reaction in the epicenter of affordable home décor: IKEA.
IKEA is a magical, maze of a warehouse where you explore the many possibilities of what your home could look like. If it hadn’t been for my list of items I needed, of which I could not stray from, I am fairly certain I would have come back to Tallahassee with new kitchen counter-top and a day bed frame that transforms into a desk in a few easy steps.
As the ultimate point of purchase display, IKEA doesn’t just place items in front of customers; it makes them accessible and believable. The show rooms allow the consumers to envision how the product will interact in their own home. It’s important for customers to be able to trust the products they are purchasing and IKEA’s point of purchase show rooms allow people to give the items a test run. You can bounce on the beds, assess the strength of the dining room table, and even give the toilet a test-sit. But please keep in mind: the utilities are not hooked up. This product trust encourages visitors to become customers.
Sometimes people can get so consumed in creating a buzz around the product that they forget the lesson we learn from IKEA and other point of purchase displays: the product itself is the best advertisement.