The Lifecycle & Trends of Impulse Products: What’s Hot with Australian Convenience-Store Shoppers (2025 Insight)

Impulse products—also known as grab-and-go essentials—are vital contributors to convenience retail profitability. Positioned strategically at counters, near fuel payment terminals or in high-traffic areas, these low-cost, fast-moving items encourage instant purchasing decisions. With minimal shelf space requirements and high turnover, they significantly boost average transaction value.

Across Australia, convenience stores, petrol stations, pharmacies and news agencies rely heavily on these unplanned purchases. As a leading wholesale and distribution partner to thousands of retailers nationwide, IPL Retail Group has deep insight into how consumer buying behaviour is shifting. In 2025, changing demographics, smarter merchandising, and evolving product preferences are reshaping the hierarchy of what sells—and what doesn’t.

This article explores historical trends, customer profiles, seasonality, product lifecycles, and winning merchandising strategies, helping retailers optimise sales and reduce product stagnation.

What Are Impulse Products and Why Do They Matter?

Impulse products are typically low-value items bought without prior planning. Customers purchase them due to convenience, need, attraction, or urgency. In the Australian convenience retail sector, top-performing impulse products include:

• Mobile accessories (charging cables, adapters, power banks, screen protectors)
• Everyday practicals (lighters, batteries, reading glasses)
• Car and travel essentials (air fresheners, sunglasses)
• Soft toys, giftables and novelty purchases
• Lifestyle accessories (socks, hats, bandanas)

These products succeed because:

• They are quick decisions that do not require negotiation or consideration
• They solve immediate problems (forgot charger, need lighter, sunglasses for glare)
• They are easy to merchandise and rotate to maintain visibility
• They perform well during peak retail periods (summer travel, holiday seasons, long weekends)

Historical Growth and Market Shifts in Impulse Categories

1. Mobile Accessories – From Optional to Essential

Mobile accessories have shown consistent year-on-year growth. A few years ago, these were considered supplementary sales. Today, with increased reliance on phones for navigation, communication and payment, purchases like charging cables or adapters have become urgent needs, especially for drivers, travellers and tradespeople.

• Between 2017 and 2019, demand grew slowly but steadily as smartphones became integral parts of daily life.
• During 2020–2021, with increased local road travel due to reduced flights, sales of car charging solutions and power banks spiked.
• From 2022 onwards, the shift towards premium and fast-charging accessories accelerated.
• In 2025, retailers can expect sustained growth, especially with Type-C and wireless charging accessories becoming widespread.

IPL Tech capitalised on this shift by offering high-quality tech accessories that perform well in high-footfall environments.

2. Lighters – From Everyday Use to Collectible Appeal

Standard lighters maintain stable demand due to functional necessity. However, the past few years have seen rising interest in novelty and premium finishing styles, such as metallic, windproof, dual-flame, or collectible designs.

Core lighter ranges remain a constant requirement in all retail placements. Meanwhile, novelty and premium designs offer higher margin potential and stronger seasonal performance (e.g., festive gifting period).

Retailers are recommended to maintain a consistent base of standard lighters while allocating space for limited-edition or trending variants to attract repeat buyers.

3. Air Fresheners – A Category on the Rise

Car care and in-vehicle ambience products have steadily increased in demand post-pandemic. As more Australians use private transport for daily commuting and road travel, products like car vent fresheners, hanging fragrance cards and gel-based air purifiers have become strong impulse items.

The Aeropure range has shown excellent rotation performance due to varied scent options and modern packaging styles that visually appeal to drivers.

4. Eyewear – High Utility with Seasonal Peaks

Reading glasses remain consistently in demand, with an estimated 7.5+ million Australians requiring vision correction. This product category appeals to both need-based buyers and ageing demographics.

Sunglasses perform best during the summer season and holiday travel periods. Style-driven purchases are common among younger commuters, while utility purchases dominate among drivers and tradespeople.

Retailers benefit from stocking a mix of budget-oriented and premium-style sunglasses to cover diverse customer preferences.

5. Small Gift Items and Soft Toys – Seasonal Influence

Gifting-based impulse products perform well around festive seasons such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father’s Day and school holiday periods. Outside celebratory seasons, general soft toys and novelty gift packs witness slower rotation unless supported by trending themes or strategic bundling.

Understanding Consumer Types and Their Buying Drivers

1. Fuel Station Travellers & Commuters
   These buyers often seek convenience over price sensitivity. Quick purchases such as chargers, cables, sunglasses and lighters are common.

2. Younger Consumers (Ages 18–35)
   React strongly to trendy and lifestyle-oriented products—tech accessories, collectible items and sunglasses.

3. Parents
   Small toys, entertainment options for kids, emergency accessories and small giftable are bought to solve immediate needs (boredom, distraction, last-minute gifting).

4. Tradespeople and Workers
   Practical products (work gloves, lighters, batteries, sunglasses) often purchased during morning supply runs.

Seasonal Impacts on Demand

• Summer & Holiday Travel (October to February): Sunglasses, tech accessories, cooling and hydration items.

• Winter (May to August): Beanies, gloves, thick socks.

• Festive Season & End of Year: Gift packs, novelty products, high-value bundles.

• Back to School/Work: Phone accessories, stationery, cables, power products.

Retailers should plan seasonal ranges three months ahead to secure availability and avoid stock shortages.

Lifecycle of an Impulse Product in Convenience Retail

Impulse products usually progress through five stages:

1. Introduction – New product is placed prominently to attract interest.
2. Growth – Sales accelerate; stock depth may be increased.
3. Peak – Strong performance; opportunity for cross-merchandising or bundle offers.
4. Decline – Product loses novelty or demand shifts.
5. Retirement – Replace with a newer design or trending item.

Retailers who monitor product lifecycle performance and rotate SKUs proactively are more likely to maintain high shelf performance.

IPL actively assists retailers in SKU retirement planning and recommending viable replacement products based on recent sales trends.

Emerging Impulse Product Trends for 2025 and Beyond

• AI-integrated travel gadgets and support tools

• Eco-conscious and recyclable packaging options

• Expanded car fragrance formats and scent longevity features

• Wireless phone charging and high-speed vehicle adapters

• Pre-built promotional gift packs for season-based merchandising

Products that solve practical issues or create emotional appeal are expected to deliver the strongest performance.

Retailer Strategies to Maximise Impulse Product ROI

To boost transaction value and improve shelf rotation, retailers should:

• Prioritise high-margin, high-frequency categories such as technology accessories, lighters and premium air fresheners.
• Refresh shelving layouts every 60 to 90 days to encourage product discovery.
• Use counter-top and eye-level displays, especially near payment or customer flow areas.
• Introduce bundle deals or value packs such as "Charger + Cable" combinations or "Buy 2, Save More" promotions.
• Utilise limited space intentionally, allocating 15–20% for fast-switching seasonal or trial items.

IPL Retail Group provides ready-to-display packaging, retail-ready trays and promotional bundles customised for convenience-store environments.

Why Retailers Choose IPL Retail Group

• Leading Australian wholesale supplier and distributor to petrol stations, convenience stores, pharmacies and news agencies.

• Extensive portfolio across multiple product categories.

• Dedicated sales representatives for in-store support, merchandising guidance and product rotation strategy.

• Nationwide delivery with fast turnaround.

• Competitive wholesale pricing, premium product quality and a customer-first service model.

Interested in stocking top-performing impulse products?
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