In what way does cross-merchandising influence customer behavior?

Cross-merchandising is a retail strategy where different but complementary products are displayed together to encourage customers to make additional purchases. By placing these items close to each other, retailers can capture customer attention and create a more compelling shopping experience. For instance, displaying pasta next to sauces or cheese can lead customers to consider buying both, which they might not have done if the items were separated. This strategic placement taps into customers' buying habits and encourages them to think of their purchases in a holistic way, often leading to increased sales and enhanced customer satisfaction.

In this context, the other choices do not accurately reflect the primary influence of cross-merchandising on customer behavior. While cross-merchandising might incidentally affect inventory management or pricing strategies, its main goal is to boost sales by promoting complementary products together, making option B the most relevant to understanding how customer behavior is influenced in a retail environment.