Match the words from the text with their definitions.

3. How do you understand the following phrases?

subtleties of the language; be the soul of discretion; keep sb/sth under surveillance; blessing in disguise; dot the i’s and cross the t’s; on the dot; the year dot; Perish the thought!

4. Answer the following questions.

- How does supermarkets size influence sales?

- What are the advantages of Sunday trading?

- Which brands are the most profitable?

- How are essential products displayed and priced?

- How is supermarket customers’ shopping behaviour studied?

- What specific factors are designed to increase sales?

- How are the interiors of supermarkets designed?

A number of sales tactics are mentioned in the article.

Example: Main doors are on the left so that people move clockwise around the store.

Look at the article again and find six more sales tactics.

● What about sales tactics used in our country? Are they similar to those used abroad? What about entrance doors, are they on the right or on the left?

6. Find the following sentences in the article and answer the questions about the words and expressions in italics. What is their meaning in the context? Use a dictionary to check.

1. 'In-store cameras backed up by discreet human surveillance ...'

Does this mean that cameras are not the only means of watching people?

2. 'Everything is geared to increased sales and profits, ...'

Are increased sales and profits a priority?

3. '... the eye reads left to right and will spot the store's brand first.'

Why is the store's own label displayed to the left of other brands?

4. 'Second, dot the KVIs around the store, ...'

Are the KVIs all likely to be grouped together?

5. '...so customers will have to hunt them out...'

Are they likely to be easy or difficult to find?

6.'It is kept soft in the wine section to encourage browsing, ...'

Are shoppers likely to spend more or less time in the wine section?

7. 'They also try to bounce you back and forth across the aisle ...' Are things arranged so they are easy to find?

Comment on the title of the article and sum up the findings of the author.

C. Group Discussion. Brainstorm Ideas.

● Why do you think supermarkets do not like talking openly about sales tactics? Do you think that if you are aware of the various tactics used to encourage you to spend, these tactics are less likely to work?

D. Vocabulary in Focus

Read the following sentence from the article, paying special attention to the underlined word.

Everything is thought out in minute detail and geared to increased sales and prof­its, which means getting consumers to buy things they don't really need, but cannot resist.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1057