On aisle time: Tapping into non-conscious decision-making

This guide walks you through a real-world shopping trip, revealing what influences in-store choices and how brands can harness it.

May 22, 2025

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On-aisle time guide cover

You think you're in control when you shop. But data tells us that the real decisions happen without you even realizing it. 

In today's attention-scarce, hyper-competitive retail landscape, marketers need more than just demographic data and stated preferences. They need to understand the non-conscious brain—the fast, emotional, automatic system driving purchase behavior. 

In this guide, you’ll discover:

  • Why shoppers default to certain behaviors—and how to interrupt them

  • What gets noticed on the shelf (and what gets skipped)

  • The invisible signals that drive impulse buys

  • How to test and optimize for nonconscious decisions before you launch

Backed by insights from Shannon Anderson, Director of Client Research at Accelerated Marketing Insights by Quad, this guide walks you through a real-world shopping trip, revealing what actually influences in-store choices and how brands can harness it.  

Download the guide, “On aisle time: Tapping into non -conscious decision making” so you can:

  • Make packaging and signage work harder

  • Design environments that drive impulse buys

  • Target the gap between what people say and what they do