How Colors Affect What You Buy (INFOGRAPHIC)

Did you know that the color red has been proven to increase consumers heart rates? Or that purple is used to create a sense of calm in customers?

This infographic from KissMetrics (hat tip to PFSK) suggests the myth of the rational economic consumer is complete bunk. The next time you reach for a black or orange item, realize that you've fallen prey to the impulse shopper portion of the retail color wheel.

Check out the infographic below to see how retailers believe you'll respond to the subtle art of color choice.

Comments

[MichaelRCooke]

09:00 PM on 12/19/2010

Here are thoughts I posted on color, my background being in graphic design and the occult: http://kitschchaos.com/blog/?p=40

If you are doing the e-commerce thing, the answer is not to follow anyone's advice but to perhaps use advice as a starting point. The thing to do is to TEST, do something a little different - and TEST AGAIN. Pay attention to what the most successful retailers and ecommerce sites are doing design wise. And also consider your own instincts as a consumer.

When it comes to color, there are no universal rules. The blue that may sell a bank as conservative and safe may sell a can of potted meat as rotten as only a blue meat can be.

[DSevere]

08:11 PM on 12/26/2010

nice site, I bookmarked it.

[Neeschaa DLovetta FivNox]

07:22 AM on 12/19/2010

Nisy@ .....

[Shane warner]

03:38 AM on 12/17/2010

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[Franny Bee]

01:47 PM on 12/15/2010

I hate news stories that remind us of what sheep we all are.

[Angel Inge]

10:44 AM on 12/14/2010

And I still have no idea what color to paint my house if I want to sell it...;)

[ochowalo8]

01:59 PM on 12/14/2010

RED!!! lol!

[fwm1]

02:56 PM on 12/14/2010

Actually, yellow with white trim sells well in some parts of the country. Not a garish yellow of course. Otherwise a neutral tone of gray or beige is pretty safe and appeals to a wide variety of people.

Generally the more upscale the community the more subtle the color.

[Freevo]

04:26 AM on 12/15/2010

ask a realtor! Last time I asked, it was white with black trim... again, depends on the part of the country.

[MsPolyTheist]

08:09 AM on 12/14/2010

Why should I trust an infographic that nobody bothered to proof? Blue, apparently, "creates the sensational of trust and security." The "sensational"?

[lolawants1117]

01:32 PM on 12/14/2010

They're obviously trying to get us to "buy" the info they're selling.

[SuperBenFranklin]

07:41 AM on 12/14/2010

This just seems like an ad for the company that made it than any real valid information.

[wonmean]

10:45 AM on 12/14/2010

Infographics need more info, and less graphics, imo.

[Red chilliMedia]

04:06 AM on 12/14/2010

This was interesting... I dint know colours on the website can also have so much meaning and depth in the shoppers psychology.

Nice graphics used in the post for easy understanding. Cool !

http://www.redchillimedia.com

[zelduh]

03:11 AM on 12/14/2010

I'm surprised that I read the entire chart, as blurry as it was. Must have been the sky-blue color choices the designer made for the background that kept me reading . . .

(I would recommend a better font.)

[Aaron Dewberry]

10:21 AM on 12/14/2010

It was a print article scanned in...

[fwm1]

03:00 PM on 12/14/2010

Actually, that's 'typeface'. Fonts are the entire group or family of a typeface. All the weights the typeface designer created: light, regular, demi, bold, etc.

[noway lv]

02:46 AM on 12/14/2010

Good thing I'm colorblind . . .

[GrownupStewie]

06:35 AM on 12/14/2010

im just plain blind

[nenaivugal]

02:24 PM on 12/14/2010

ROFL :D

[apoyo]

08:10 AM on 12/14/2010

LOL!

[hauksdottir]

02:12 AM on 12/14/2010

I've seen better middle school Science Fair charts. Decades ago.

Would I hire an 8th grader to advise my marketing department? Would I hire this company? At least the kid would be technologically savvy.

[wethree]

01:05 AM on 12/14/2010

Give me an F'in break.

First the graphics look like they are from 1950.

If it were this easy, actually, they'd have figured it out in 1950.

Maybe some dumb Brand Manager will pay for this kind of thinking. Bless them.

#huffpoFAIL on this one, big time.

[Yorksgal]

12:31 AM on 12/14/2010

If you are a republithug the only color that matters is green - the more the better.

[apoyo]

08:11 AM on 12/14/2010

But, they are the party of red.

Red and green.

The Christmas party.

[Dan808]

08:54 AM on 12/14/2010

"But they (Republitards) are the party of ...red and green.". Is that blood stained money. Looks like the blood of the 'Merikan Peepl...

[moonflowerjewelry]

11:52 PM on 12/13/2010

In other words, if you REALLY want to mess with the heads of business people and their psychometric testers: don't impulse buy, research ahead of time, look for made in USA... shop at goodwill/SA, repair what you can, use things up, wear them out...
I have this weird ability to tune out advertisements, drives my kids nuts. If someone is pouring such incredible resources into controlling my choices, it gives me enormous delight NOT to buy it.

[chichel]

12:43 PM on 12/14/2010

I agree. My sister-in-law is always talking to me about commercials. "I hate that blahblahblah commercial." Then don't watch it, is my response.

[lmktacwa]

10:36 PM on 12/13/2010

I am surprised that more people don't jump off a slow site and buy elsewhere.