Why do retailers want to read your mind? Because they understand that if they enhance a customer’s overall experience in their store, their customers will spend more time and money.

A recent USA Today article detailed the mix of initiatives that retailers are testing in order to target you with products and promotions that are likely to resonate with you.

Loyalty cards, birthday promotions and sale pricing are all examples of how a retailer gets the demographic information so they can tailor the shopping experience for you. Understanding what life stage you are in, whether or not you buy on impulse or rational thoughts, what type of ambiance is best for you are critical in attracting the right type of customer.

David Forbes, a psychologist who consults with Nordstrom and Gap, recently came up with an “industrial chic” décor for outlet stores. “After all, Forbes says, a store’s ambiance can lure or repel consumers based on their mindsets and what they are looking for emotionally in a shopping trip.”

It’s not just retailers that are moving towards the behavioral model. Any business with a customer understands the more quickly they truly know and engage a customer on their terms, the stronger the relationship. What experience are you creating for your clients?

Learn more about how you can engage your customers on their terms.