The impact of in-store greenery on customers

Abstract

The incorporation of greenery in retail areas has scarcely been explored in environmental psychology studies. In a 2 by 2 experimental design, the effect of in-store vegetation on consumer emotions and responses towards the store was studied, considering the moderating role of the information rate of the retail setting. While introducing foliage in the store environment did not evoke feelings of excitement, it was found to elicit pleasure and to reduce stress in a ‘complex’ store interior. Given the impact of pleasure and stress on consumers’ approach/avoidance responses, these findings support the potential of integrating greenery, particularly in ‘spatially dense’ stores.