Final answer:
A supermarket adding a variety of non-traditional items like greeting cards, flowers, and alcohol through scrambled merchandising primarily aims to increase sales and improve customer experience. This approach may also lead to greater efficiency and predictability in their operations. Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
A supermarket that has a section for greeting cards, flowers, and alcohol is aiming to achieve scrambled merchandising in hopes of increasing sales. By diversifying its product offerings beyond traditional grocery items, the store can entice customers to make additional purchases that they might not have made otherwise. This strategy aligns with the notion that consumers benefit from having a larger variety of goods available, potentially at lower prices. Moreover, the store's expectation is that by creating a one-stop shopping experience, they will not only improve customer experience but also promote efficiency and predictability in their operations.
While scrambled merchandising can result in positive outcomes such as improved profits and customer convenience, it may also lead to a reduction in the variety and uniqueness of products available in the marketplace. The concept of McDonaldization described this phenomenon as a trend towards efficiency and calculability, often at the expense of product diversity and human interaction.