“That’s why there are no signs on the walkways.”
Posted: September 27, 2024 1:00 AM CDT
TikToker and mom Dani (@danimorin13) recently drew attention to the layout changes at her local Costco. She says it made her change her diaper buying habits.
“Costco did something very despicable,” she said in a video that has been viewed more than 325,000 times. “These are diapers. And they’re in the complete back of the store. … They used to be right next to the cash register. The reason they’re doing something like this now is because the mother might be buying things. Because it is the highest.
Of course, it wasn’t just the diapers that moved. Dani showed viewers that all baby-related items, such as formula and wipes, had been moved to the “back corner of the store.” This means parents with children also have to walk all the way through the store. That’s even if you’re just looking for one product.
“So for a mom on a budget like me, especially with my first child, I could only buy the Kirkland brand. So I would just go into Costco, turn right, grab the diapers and leave,” the TikToker said. continues. “But now they’re in the back. So before they buy the discounted diapers, they’re more likely to buy something else.”
Dani told the Daily Dot that he believes “this is a bigger picture of the inflation problem.”
“Stores aren’t making enough money and families don’t have money to spend. Also, during this time, parents are very vulnerable when it comes to marketing, and brands and manufacturers are being very sensitive to how they get parents to spend their money. “Moving baby food, diapers and other essentials is one way to get parents to see their ads,” she said.
@danimorin13 The store layout is always very interesting. #MomsWhoShop ♬ Original song – Dani |Safety for mothers and children
Why are Costco’s diapers located at the back of the store?
Retail store layouts are often designed to encourage customers to buy more and increase profitability. And Costco is no exception.
“This creates a situation where even the most avid single-item purchaser is persuaded to make many additional purchases,” wrote Costco warehouse architect Stan Reigleid. fast company “This carefully orchestrated layout of seduction and choreography, resulting in unexpected purchases, makes Costco a genius at seducing and catering to customers at the same time.”
But that’s not necessarily the only factor. A Costco employee once told me business insider One of the reasons store layouts change all the time is because “vendors pay to change their layouts on a regular basis to increase sales.”
What Costco Shoppers Say
For the most part, commenters on Dani’s TikTok didn’t seem too concerned about having to walk through an entire Costco to get diapers. Many people said their local Costco has had baby products displayed in the back of the store for years.
“Our store was always in the back corner,” @krj90 wrote. “I’ll have to walk a little further and grab my diaper and leave.”
“Every Costco I’ve been to is set up like that,” @dontbeasaltyb said.
“Costco sometimes moves items around to prevent people from going to one place and leaving right away,” added @shr_bear. “They want you to walk around. That’s why the aisles aren’t labeled.”
One commenter who identified himself as a Costco employee claimed that the reason for this particular part of the layout was because of the number of pallets of diapers that had to be restocked each day.
“It’s much easier to stock up as soon as you receive it,” she wrote.
Still, some people pointed out that their local Costco actually has diapers by the register. However, there are also different opinions on that strategy.
“Our house used to be in the back and we loved it. Less foot traffic,” @briannak1996 said. “Right now, it’s near the cash register, but it’s hard to get there because of the people lining up at the cash register.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Costco through its website’s media contact form.
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