The Effect on Sales of Color in Newspaper Advertisements

Abstract

Abstract Little empirical research is available on the effects on retail sales of the use of color in newspaper advertising. This study analyzes the results of two experiments conducted by the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram, and concludes that median sales volume gains of approximately 41% may be realized by using one-color, single-exposure newspaper ads, instead of otherwise identical black-and-white ads, for price-reduced items. This conclusion is supported by statistical analysis of empirical data on actual sales.