Definition
Impulse purchasing or impulse buying is a purchase behavior that is assumed to be made without prior planning or thought (i.e., typically made in-store with little or no decision-making effort). [1]
Often, it is claimed, impulse buying involves an emotional reaction to the stimulus object (e.g., product, packaging, point-of-purchase display) in addition to the simple acquisition act.
An impulse product (or impulse-intercept merchandise) is a convenience product (good or service) that is bought on the spur of the moment — without advance planning or serious consideration at the time (i.e., prior to which the customer had no perceived need) — and is often stimulated by point-of-sale promotion or observation.
from magezon.com
References
- American Marketing Association, AMA Dictionary.