Impact of Store Atmospherics on Impulse Buying Behavior Regarding Shopping Goods in Pakistan

Currently all the businesses are facing cut throat competition and companies and retailers are using different components of store atmospherics to attract the customers and to get competitive edge in the market by differentiating themselves from their competitors and consequently to be successful in the market. Current research is among very few on the components of store atmospherics and Impulse Buying in Pakistan. It will be helpful for producers, retailers and marketers by providing them roadmap to develop different strategies to increase sales and ultimately getting a larger market share by influencing buying decision making process of the consumers.

Quantitative research approach has been used in this study and data has been collected through survey research method in which adapted questionnaire is used as instrument of survey. The sample size was 600 consisting of different cities (Islamabad, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Arifwala and Multan). Research data has been analyzed by applying descriptive statistical techniques through SPSS software. Descriptive statistics, pie graphs, scatter diagram, correlation and linear regressions tests have been applied to draw the results of the study.

Results of the study have shown that the questionnaire is reliable to measure the constructs. Correlation values show that store layout, point of purchase displays, atmospherics and human factors have positive moderate correlation with impulse buying behavior. The results of regression analysis have shown that store layout, point of purchase displays, atmospherics and human factors have significant impact on impulse buying behavior. The study has some limitations as well; data has been collected through adapted questionnaire although there are other instruments as well to measure the constructs. In this study mere quantitative research approach has been used, while a mixed method approach can also be used to measure the constructs. The study has been conducted in only seven cities of Pakistan therefore it will be difficult to generalize the results of the study.