The Daily Stat: Retail Therapy Works, Research Shows

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JUNE 30, 2011 Retail Therapy Works, Research Shows Shopping as "therapy" is effective at elevating mood, and it doesn't lead to buyer's regret. All of the shoppers in a research sample said they had bought themselves a treat during the past week—ranging from a fishing reel to a kitchen magnet—and 62% of the treat purchases were motivated by a desire to repair a bad mood, say A. Selin Atalay of HEC Paris in France and Margaret G. Meloy of Penn State. Asked about their post-purchase feelings, 82% of participants had only positive things to say. There seem to be few, if any, downside consequences of retail therapy, the researchers say. Source: Retail Therapy: A Strategic Effort to Improve Mood Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT Harvard Business Review on Succeeding as an Entrepreneur Harvard Business Review Paperback Series If you need the best practices and ideas for launching new ventures—but don't have time to find them—this book is for you. Here are nine inspiring and useful perspectives, all in one place. This collection of HBR articles will help you zero in on your most promising prospects, set a clear direction for your start-up, test and revise your assumptions along the way, and more. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Bike Commuting Surges, Led by Middle-Aged Men A Smarter Elite Makes for a Better Economy Having Too Many Stars Can Hurt a Team Lack of Sleep Leads to Unethical Conduct Nearly 1 in 10 Employees Bring Work Home Anxiety Makes You a Worse Negotiator It Tastes Good Because It's My Favorite Brand American Students More Prone to Boredom U.S. Dads More Open to Staying Home with Kids Business Students Score Higher on Narcissism Free HBR Interactive issue Download the iPad app HBR Reads, and get your issue with audio and video interviews and multimedia slideshows. Learn more » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2011 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)