Anyone who has ever visited a Penneys store will know how difficult it is to leave without adding multiple items to their shopping basket.
The beloved fashion retailer is often the top destination for savvy shoppers hoping to bag stylish outfits at low prices.
While many of us will just pop in for a look, or with one specific item in mind, often we exit the store with much more than we planned to buy.
READ MORE : Penneys shoppers dealt blow as prices set to rise across Irish stores within months
According to an expert, there is a very simple reason why this is the case: it's all down to the store experience created by the retail company.
Consumer expert Dr Amna Khan has claimed that Primark, which operates as Penneys in Ireland, creates an experience for the customer that makes people want to stay there for longer.
She spoke on Channel 5's new documentary Primark: How Do They Do It?, which takes a deep dive into Primark and the secrets behind the brand's success, as Essex Live reports.
"A destination store creates an experience for the consumer, almost like going to a theme park where all your senses are activated, and you want to stay there for longer," Dr Khan said.
On the show, it's explained that Primark often buys large retail spaces to add experiences like beauty studios, barbers and cafes.
This is true of its Birmingham branch which spans over 160,000 feet, is spread over a whopping five floors, and is officially the biggest store in the world.
Consumer journalist, Harry Wallop, said: "There's a phrase used in the retail industry called 'dwell time'.
"You don't want people to just to come in, buy an item and leave. You want someone to come in, look for the item, think 'that looks like a nice cafe. I'll stop there, I'll have a coffee and a bun, I'll then buy something else.
"On the way you spot another bit of homewares, it's only €5, in it goes to your basket."
He added: "If you can increase the dwell time you are onto a winning formula and you have justified the high expense of operating a high street store."
Head of Primark's Innovation and Future trends, Jermaine Lapwood, added of the Birmingham store: "You name it, we do it all here. We want people to explore all the amazing products that we have to offer. But at the same time, we don't want them to be inconvenienced.
"If they want to get a coffee or if the kids are starting to get frustrated, they can pop up to our own Disney cafe."
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