History of Trader Joe's

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:41 pm

For those of you who shop at Trader Joe's, here's a rare look inside the company...

http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/20/news/co ... /index.htm

I agree with this philosophy:
Swapping selection for value turns out not to be much of a tradeoff. Customers may think they want variety, but in reality too many options can lead to shopping paralysis. "People are worried they'll regret the choice they made," says Barry Schwartz, a Swarthmore professor and author of The Paradox of Choice. "People don't want to feel they made a mistake." Studies have found that buyers enjoy purchases more if they know the pool of options isn't quite so large. Trader Joe's organic creamy unsalted peanut butter will be more satisfying if there are only nine other peanut butters a shopper might have purchased instead of 39.

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:24 pm

I long for a Trader Joe's store within reasonable driving distance. Currently, the nearest store is in Leawood, KS - only 582 miles away.

I'd be better off going to the Santa Fe, New Mexico store, though, probably, because it's only 14 miles farther, and I would be able to enjoy the scenery so much more, going that route.

Thanks for the link.

Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:09 pm

Oh my... Looks like the closest one to me is about 188 miles. Might as well be 500. HaHa That's what comes with living out in the sticks.

Love, Shirley

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:17 am

In that respect I am lucky since I have one only 10 miles away and just don't get there often enough.

Maggie

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:32 am

We had one that just opened in our town. I was delighted as I've been driving
80+ miles (each way) to get to the closest one. There was a woman here who started a Facebook page dedicated to getting them to town and I think she ended up with several hundred participants urging them to come. I don't know if that played a part in their decision or not but it couldn't have hurt. A guy I knew working there gave me a list of all their gluten free items which was really helpful. He said it was also available online. Now if we could get a Costco......

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:57 am

HI Deb,

Glad one has moved to town. On the other hand, IMHO, becareful what you wish for. I am not a big-box store type of person and feel patronizing the little and local businesses are best. Just my take on Costco, Walmart and Sam's club.

Maggie

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:10 am

Hi Maggie,
I understand what you're saying and I do try and buy small/local whenever
possible. We have a Sam's here but I like Costco's quality better (organic meats) and in Minnesota the farmer's markets are pretty limited from October through May. Plus Costco has lots of great kitchen gadgets and cookbooks! :)

Deb, the kitchen gadget queen

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:47 pm

I have 2 Trader Joes all within 5 miles in different directions from me. I personally prefer Sprouts Farmers Market. Similar to TJ's but they have many , many, more GF items all conveniently marked as such. There are three stores that are about 4-10 miles from me.

CAMary · Post by **CAMary** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:12 pm

I am fortunate to have a Trader Joe's within walking distance

It is actually a bonus since their parking lots are notoriously disasterous... We walk over to that particular strip mall with the dog each weekend to get a coffee and often stop in at TJs. I don't do all of my shopping there, but each time I go I think "I should come here more often and get more things!"

Mary