I've been reading a lot of stories online and in print while researching Trader Joe's, and I've noticed that people who have moved away from a Trader Joe's store really miss the products.
Is there an opportunity for someone to create a service that ships Trader Joe's products? How much of a premium could you charge? Would anyone be interested?
I just googled Trader Joe's to see if there's a location by me. I moved from Philadelphia to the York, PA area a few months ago, and I MISS TRADER JOE'S!!! Would love to find out if anyone ships or if the store has plans for online shopping for us folks in the boonies.
Posted by: Marybird | September 14, 2005 at 10:08 AM
Where could I find information on how to become merchant for Trader Joes? We are a wine manufacturer in France and are interested in selling our wine at Trader Joe's.
Posted by: Veronique | September 14, 2005 at 03:04 PM
Hello! I too would like info on how to become a vendor for Trader Joe's. It's my favorite store, and I would LOVE to show them my products. My partner and I support a women's coop in Peru, and we import their beautiful hand-made bags. Whole Foods carries our products, but I really think that our bags would fit perfectly into Trader Joe's as well! Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!
Posted by: Tami | September 21, 2005 at 06:45 PM
TJ's doesn't sell "goods" such as the one described, really. They used to have a housewares department, but they focus on food & wine now.
Posted by: Randoman | October 06, 2005 at 10:33 PM
My wife and are would like to open a Trader Joe's in Yuma. How do we get information about francise?
Thanks
Tim
Posted by: Tim Rush | October 27, 2005 at 11:41 AM
I have visited our son in La Verne,CA and New Port Beach and found that your store has the best prices and the best food for health conscious people
Posted by: Rose Marie Strauss | October 28, 2005 at 11:09 PM
I would like information regarding franchising of a Trader Joe's store. Is it available as a franchise? I would like to add a Trader Joe's Restaurant Bistro to the store concept in a location in Northern California. Would this be allowed? to have a 75 seat bistro restaurant in the same store? this would be a very exciting addition and new concept. " Trader Joe's Bistro Grills" utilizing some the stores inventories.... What do you think of this concept?
Chef Dan Catanio
Redding California.
website- cateringwithchefdan.com
Hope to hear from you soon..... :)
Posted by: Daniel Catanio | November 16, 2005 at 11:30 AM
I would love to have a Trader Joe's in my region...can I get information on a franchise?
Denise
Posted by: Denise | November 21, 2005 at 02:35 PM
My neighbor and I were discussing how wonderful it would be to have a Trader Joe's in our booming area and how desperately it is needed because of the current developing. I have been trying to find franchise information about Trader Joe's, but keep coming up empty handed. Can you please lend me some insight.....Thanks!
Heather
Posted by: Heather | November 26, 2005 at 05:14 PM
I just got a job at the newest Trader Joe's in the country and the last one opening up during 2005 in Newport News, VA.
One of the pamphlets I received yesterday, during the first day of orientation (filling out paperwork), was titled "A Message to All Trader Joe's Employees."
After a preamble, it starts out with the subtitle, "The things that make us different:" (and continues) "Let me start out by telling you the things that we don't have or the things that we don't do:"
A series of bullets ensues and around the middle of the page is this:
* Franchise -- We want to have complete control over the quality of our people, products, prices, and level of personalized service.
In another pamphlet, it makes clear that in general people are promoted from within (85%). In fact the store I'm going to be working with has people from all over the country that have come to open up TJ and also live in Newport News, VA. The captain (head guy) came all the way from southern Cali, and the first person I met in the store stocking the freshly-made shelves was in from Seattle. I haven't met a single person that didn't already work at a Trader Joe's before this one. There's also no real owner. Each store's management team makes all major store operational decisions, and there's no set way of making those decisions. Although there are general values, it seems as if each store is encouraged to mold itself to the community it enters.
Noting that Newport News Shipbuilding is the largest employer in the state, Trader Joe's sea-faring insignia will fit right in.
Posted by: Isiah Carl Smith | November 29, 2005 at 06:33 PM
I would like information on opening a Trader Joe's in San Marcos, CA. 92078. Please send me information.
Posted by: James A. Meredith | November 30, 2005 at 07:15 PM
Information on Trader Joe Franchise here in Colorado
Posted by: MaureenWeins | December 04, 2005 at 02:54 PM
My wife and are would like to open a Trader Joe's in Portland, Maine. How do we get information about francise?
Thanks
Shawn
Posted by: Shawn Bowen | December 13, 2005 at 09:40 AM
All I ever hear about Trader Joe's is how much people love it. And I love to spend my money on good food that taste great. I want to open up my own TJ's and need some info. on how to franchise it. I got the perfect spot where everyone drives a half hour to get to the closest TJ's. If you can give me any info. to help, I would love it....
Posted by: Jon Ziegler | December 31, 2005 at 03:08 PM
I would love to have a Trader Joe's in my city (Ensenada, Baja California, México) . I think this would be the first Trader Joe's in Mexico.
I need information on how to franchise TJ...
Posted by: Carolina | January 12, 2006 at 04:10 PM
I used to live in Southern California and did much of my food shopping at Trader Joe's. I now live in the Atlanta area, and the closest thing to a TJs is Whole Foods, but it's 30 minutes away. I know SOOO many people who have lived near a TJs in the past and would LOVE to have one close. Any plans on opening one in the south, or do you have any franchise information?
Posted by: Karie | January 20, 2006 at 03:22 PM
How do we open a Trader Joe's in Berkshire County, MA? Big tourist area: Tanglewood, skiing, arts, eclectic communities.
Denise
Posted by: Denise | January 20, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Is Trader Joes available as a franchise business? How do I find out information about it?
Posted by: Lucy | January 22, 2006 at 04:22 PM
Are there opportunities to open a Trader Joe's as a franchise? I live in Central PA and we are definitely lacking something like this.
Posted by: Colin Carroll | January 23, 2006 at 08:54 PM
I would also like some information on franchising a Traders Joe for my area Scranton/Dickson City/Hawley/Milford Pennsylvania.
Posted by: nicole Wurtz | January 24, 2006 at 12:52 PM
PLEASE open a Trader Joe's in Richmond VA!! I recently moved here from Washington D.C. and miss it terribly! I believe that with the re-building of the downtown area, a Trader Joe's would be a terrific addition!!
Posted by: Angie | January 25, 2006 at 12:34 PM
I am here looking for franchise info for the Scranton, PA area. People here travel FAR to get their TJ fix!
Posted by: Gina | January 26, 2006 at 07:30 PM
Hi, my wife and I really missed going to TJs in Alexandria, VA. We now live overseas but will return to the U.S in less than two years. We'd like to find out info on a opening a possible franchise in San Antonio, Texas.
Posted by: Gerry | January 30, 2006 at 01:18 PM
I can see from the above questions that a lot of people are interested in opening a trader joe's. As am I. I read on the TJ site that their store is company owned and they do not allow franchises.
Is there any hope for me of getting one opened in a growing community where I know it will do well?
Thanks
Janet
Posted by: janet | February 05, 2006 at 01:52 PM
I would like to open a Trader Joe's. Are there franchise opportunities available?
Posted by: Brian | February 08, 2006 at 10:25 PM