For these shoppers, the store's service and environment often influence the amount of time they spend in the store, which in turn determines the overall performance of the store. The longer a shopper stays in a store, the more likely he is to buy something. One may wonder as to what makes a shopper, who decides to kill a few minutes in a retail store, walk out Rs1,000 lighter but still feeling elated than ever before? Its something that may be explained by various factors but, surely, the look and feel of a store are the major aspects; they are directly related to the aspirations of a customer. It's a desirable look and feel that pampers the shoppers and, thereby, motivating them to buy .So, the big question arises : What do they desire in terms of the look and feel of a store ? What do the shoppers want?

Based on my my recent studies a visual merchandiser, here are a few things that shoppers usually look out for :-

Where's the Feeling

Shoppers love to touch and feel things. At times, the buying decision largely depends on the way a thing feels. This especially applies in case of women . As we come across a product, we tend to feel the product in every way possible, including touching, hearing, smelling and tasting. Shoppers see stores as places where they get a chance to feel what they want to buy ; it acts like an assurance factor that motivates the buying decision.

Look at me

Shoppers love mirrors simply for the reason that we all like to stop and admire our own images. Mirrors tend to slow shoppers down and look at things more closely ,thereby, resulting in a larger selection of goods to buy. Shoppers can be found complimenting their reflections with a "hey, smarty!" or a "look at me !" gesture . Shoppers love to try out things in front of the mirror, twisting from side to side to view different angles. For them, mirrors are like their shopping companions.

Eureka 

Shopping makes people feel young and lively. It brings about a feeling of sheer satisfaction of discovery : exploring and finding something new. And a shopping mall is a place where this urge to discover finds a vent . Finding something new is an exciting part of shopping. All shoppers rejoice when they find what have been searching for; especially if the product has a rare availability. Shoppers, no doubt, love to be guided towards such joyful discoveries.

Look Who's Talking

Shoppers just love to talk. A conducive environment for talking is one of the great motivating factors for shopping, not just window shopping, but actual buying. And if it's further complemented by some "easy listening" music playing in the background ,it's a shopper's bliss . The more they get to talk the more time they want to be in the store. So, stores need to ensure a minimum possible interference in shopper talking.

Here I Am

Shoppers possess an irresistible desire to be recognized and showed that they are of value and it is this innate desire that just can't be ignored. Retailers do themselves good by making the customers feel welcome as soon as they pull into the parking . Recognition gives shoppers a feeling of belonging, thereby, resulting in loyalty ; shoppers return with a “Here I am!”.

Sale! Sale! Sale!

More than anything , what shoppers want is a good deal. It is certainly no wonder that store becomes most happening whenever a sale or discount is announced. Discount and special offers pull shoppers to a store like nothing else. It's a fact that the fastest moving merchandise is from the clearance racks. Some shoppers will postpone purchasing an item until it goes on sale or presented with a smart offer that's simply irresistible .

Thus, we can say that shoppers want certain things that make them feel special and that's what they really are.We need to know, to understand, what shoppers want ,so as to meet up to their expectations.

My authentic, coveted bag, I will not forsake you. Let no one person cast aside the miracle of your Armani presence in exchange for a brown pleather bag with squiggly insignia resembling Y S L. Let the powers of branding sweep across middle earth, and ignite the hearts of the uninformed and rogue Chinese spenders who rapaciously banter down prices, intently attracted by the handbag that can be gotten inexpensively or thrown-in to offset a price, rather than desire with the fire of a thousand hells you, the flawless replica, that so eloquently speaks to my Occidental albeit discount-shopper self like a command issued from the heavens. You must create your identity! Create! Create!'

Need Creation

Creating a need for luxury brands in China is not a simple matter of transferring the global demand for luxury items into a new market - it requires an overhaul of cultural perception. Haier is a global Chinese brand, but is it sexy? Not exactly, and it is branding that can spin the profit of product recognition into surefooted market advantage. But if sex sells, branding in the Chinese market brings in to play an interesting question and even a prophesy about this private and closed-off world "opening" to the world. The world is coming to China through the open door but is China ready for Paris Hilton and Carl's Junior?

So Many Choices

What choices should be presented to Chinese consumers and in what context? Given the unbridled buying power teeming within middle earth, it is no surprise that branding wants to happen there. Branding is sex-y. But, one has to wonder how many Chinese consumers are as intently aware of Prada as their Western cousins, given the unparalleled number of designer replicas worried on busy shoulders in Beijing, all bearing nonsensical insignia like banners on the shoulders of the uninitiated.

Come One, Come All

There is no doubt that East and West alike are afloat in a sea of complexities that shape purchasing decisions. The answer is complex but one that marketers and CEO's are ready to untangle. Y S L is an accepted codename among brand-savvy consumers signaling "high-caliber lifestyle" or "reckless spender". How mesmerizing to marketers it must be when the North American consumer enter a market, and on the spot purchases their must-have fall bag, for then the true power of branding is as familiar as smog at Beijing dawn. Westerners will not leave without The Bag regardless of price tag. Conversely, the Chinese denizen cum consumer will leave easily with several insignificant bags, replica or not, and still enough cash-in-hand to stretch their purchasing power-experience into several tomorrows.

Bargain, or Brand - You Choose

The nub of it lies therein, nestled cantankerously between impulse, vanity purchases and the power and glory of buying Western merch for a song. At the psychological root of the Western versus Eastern consumer experience there is a difference of identity. Marketers have a challenge at hand in the creation of "The Must Have" purchases that have been skillfully striking at the core of western identity since Ford first swept Americans away in a modern, conspicuous consumption roar.

China Will Demonstrate Its Success

Catch phrases like "life-style purchases" come to mind, and Chinese CEO's and marketing executives need to delve deep into the beating hearts of their consumers to find therein a clue to successful branding in China. Western identity is cloaked in consumer choice, each individual a potential canvas whose identity need be dressed-up or down in label choices that speak volumes about personal values, success, and sex. What the world stage has past proven time and again is the bizarre changeability of people's perceived needs in the global, cult of manufactured desire. This sounds like a stretch for first and second, generation party members whose identity was wrapped in the identity of a socialist dream, or does it?

Get paid $25 to $150 by participating in out focus groups! You have seen this one, right? I have tried to participate in dozens of these focus groups only to be informed that I don’t qualify. I can only conclude that I am not Hispanic, 25 years old, with a few children under my wing. I mean no offense to the many single Hispanic mothers out there, which are the qualifications these focus groups are looking for.

There are many other reasons also. I am not the right gender. I don’t live in the right area. I don’t make the right amount of money. If I made enough money I wouldn’t even bother with the online focus groups.

There is only one reason for these focus groups. To acquire information on you to send to companies that want to sell you something. If you do happen to make any money it might just be enough to purchase so-called “sponsored” items.

Secret Shoppers

This is a good one. And I mean that in a negative way.

There are three reasons to stay away from this one

1. You have to pay them to become a member
2. You have to endure a mountain of offers, you know, the ones where you answer yes or no (usually have to accept 1 to 3)
3. If you didn’t accept any of their offers you either don’t qualify or you have to use your own money, and maybe you will get reimbursed.

So you see, you will end up spending time and money for a “job”, as they try to advertise this as being, and getting very little in return except aggravation.

Paid Surveys

If you want your e-mail flooded with “free” offers then go for this one. The fact is very few actually pay in cash. Most give you points that are redeemable on E-bay or Amazon.

To acquire enough points you would have to fill out surveys 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for maybe $20 to spend on one of the commercial sites. Does that sound like fun?

They try to make it sound official by telling you many companies need people like you to test or give your opinion on their products. This is just another huge advertising campaign to get your personal information so they can try to sell you something.

Conclusion

These are not jobs. They are scams for ignorant people like me, who have been trying to make money for 6 months now using these methods and have not seen one penny for my efforts.

There are a few, and I mean a very few who make extra money using these methods, but they are the ones who spent 100’s maybe 1,000’s of dollars on software and/or sponsored offers that give them a heads up over ordinary people like you or me.