FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

I just read an article in a print magazine that talked about how high end boutiques play music that they feel gets their customers in the mood to shop. Well, actually the music is supposed to get the shopper in the mood for whatever the activity that the clothing in the store would normally be worn to do. For example, if the store sells a lot of clothing styles that are designed to be worn out and about in dance clubs, then playing music that customers might normally hear at a dance club, supposedly motivates them to spend more on that particular type and style of clothing. The article went on to discuss how such music has been being played at fashion shows for a long time, to get big buyers in the mood to spend, spend, spend. In addition, the cross over to playing the music in the stores themselves was not all that big of a leap, yet no one seemed to think of it before just a few years ago. When they did, sales actually increased noticeably and right away. Music as a motivator is surely not new; yet using it to motivate people to spend money on clothes shopping is not yet so popular that you will find it wherever you happen to live, especially if you do not live in a large metropolitan area.

The last time I shopped for clothing at my local mall, this theory had yet to reach the managers of the local clothing stores. What was playing in the background was some cross between what I and I am sure many others refer to as elevator music, with a slight mix tossed in of holiday tunes. I was trying to find a top to wear with a pair of jeans to a casual affair holiday party, and some livelier tunes would definitely have been appreciated. Whether they would have coerced me into spending my money more freely, that I am not sure about, but it sure would not have hurt.

When I think about all of the places I listen to music, from the comfort of my own home, to my vehicle, restaurants, and yes, shopping malls, I am all for changing the average set of tunes most stores play over their speaker system. Whether I can honestly speculate that, I would like the fact that the music might lead me to part with my money more freely; I would definitely hesitate to bring it forward to discuss.

Shopping to music that fits the mood might be fun though. Right now, when I go shopping, I am more apt to listen to the salesperson whine on about her lousy hours, low pay, and a discount that is not worth having to put up with what she does (this was an actual vent that I did listen to while shopping not that long ago), or possibly to some screaming kids running up and down between the racks of clothes. For the record, I have kids of my own, and they have done just that. Actually, when I think of it, the livelier music would probably have made them even wilder than normal! Well, if I knew I was in for such a fun treat shopping, I might have been more inclined to leave the kids at home!

Music has many places in life. Whether shopping for clothing while listening to tunes that fit the style of clothing is one of them, I personally am all for it the more I think about it. While hanging on to my money might need some tightening, I am sure that having it help put me in the mood to find the perfect outfit for whatever occasion I am heading to would far outweigh the spending aspect. As it is, until music fitting the bill hits a mall near me, I guess I will continue to wear whatever old thing I find in my closet, because I am just not finding any clothing fitting my current needs. Not unless you call almost making the grievous error of purchasing a sweater with a glowing red nose front and center while listening to Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer blasting loud on the store's speaker system to wear to this year's annual holiday party counts!