Why Start A Blog About Trader Joe's?

I know it sounds strange, but I like to study companies. I'm especially interested in companies that are serious innovators in typically boring or declining markets. I spent the past 20 months following Netflix on my other blog, Hacking Netflix. Netflix is completely changing the DVD rental business, and has been a very interesting company to write about. I posted about 850 stories on Hacking Netflix, and the site has received more than 1 million pageviews and generated almost 10,000 comments.

I wanted to start another blog, and I was looking for a company that was growing in a competitive market, had a lot of passionate customers, and was doing something very interesting. Trader Joe's is all of this and more. It also helps that I shop there several nights a week.

When I started Hacking Netflix, I was posting information that I found interesting, but it quickly grew into a community of readers and contributors. I see my job here as editor, and I would hope that you would contribute story ideas, ask questions, and participate in the discussion.

Please feel free to contact me by e-mail: TrackingTJ @ gmail.com.

Comments

[lj]

awesome! Trader Joe's provides such a fresh alternative to mainstream grocery chains!

I do about 90% of my grocery shopping there :)

[mzn]

I'm thrilled that you have started this blog and look forward to reading it. (I love the store but in the back of my mind I suspect there's something wrong with it.)

[Juliana Aldous Atkinson]

I love this idea and I'm looking forward to reading your blog!

[Keith Brown]

I shop Trader Joe's several times each week. It's the only grocery store I know that makes grocery shoping exciting. I like all the specialty items such as the coffees and teas. Their breads are great, the choice of healthy cereals is extensive and the prices can't be beat... anywhere (including the fresh flowers that my wife loves receiving). I'm a new follower of yours and I look forward to reading this particular blog.

[Keith Brown]

I shop Trader Joe's several times each week. It's the only grocery store I know that makes grocery shoping exciting. I like all the specialty items such as the coffees and teas. Their breads are great, the choice of healthy cereals is extensive and the prices can't be beat... anywhere (including the fresh flowers that my wife loves receiving). I'm a new follower of yours and I look forward to reading this particular blog.

[Sam]

Mike:

Perhaps you can collect anecdotes about TJs and build a detailed
consumer anaysis of the company in book format.

Lord knows, if the Trader Joe's logo shows up on anything...
Ignorant consumers will flock to purchase it !

Keep up the good and noble work,

Sincerely, Sam

[MS]

I have a Trader Joe's right up the street from where I live. I shop there waaaaaaayyyyyyy too much, but the food is so great and the staff is so friendly! I hope you don't find any hidden horrible Trader Joe's secrets!

[Lee]

Yes, I am wondering if there is any financial information on Trader Joe's? I see that it is not listed on the stock market.

[John]

I used to work at TJ's, and it was one of the most fun jobs I ever had. The company really is enlightened, and they treat their employees very well. In response to the financial question: I think I remember hearing that TJ's is privately owned by some German-American family that is now the 3rd richest family in the US. (No guarantee about the accuracy of that...look em up on Google).

[Gail]

Does anyone know where the new Trader Joe's in New York is located? Also, is it possible to order from Trader Joe's online?

[Debra]

I live in Tennessee and would love a Trader Joe's in the Cookville area. The nearest one is in Dayton Ohio....Ok so I visit family and go to that one but come on let's get some more on the east coast....have any good news on that?

[Marcia]

I visited a TJ for the first time last week in LA and wish there was one in Iowa where I live. The prices are amazing and the food we bought was delicious and exactly what I like to eat. I'm sold! Now I just have to figure out how to get to the nearest store.

[Allison]

You know, it would really incredible if Trader Joe's had an online store for those non-perishable items that I love to stock up on: the Indian entrees, for example; and many of the canned goods. I'm sure shoppers throughout the U.S. would purchase many of these items in bulk if they were available online. This would also appease many of us who are still waiting for a local store.

[Colin Highland]

Please answer the questions to above...is there any way of ordering non-perishable items online?

[Katrina]

From the outside, Trader Joe's might look like a wonderful environment to be in, with interesting foods and superb prices. From the inside, it is a cult, full of managers who sexually harrass employees, heavy drug addicts and alcohol abusers(TJ's does not employ drug testing--if they SHOULD someday they would probably lose at least 90% of their employees), dirty politics, and no room for the little person who is just trying to earn a paycheck. I worked for Trader Joe's for over 10 years and decided I had had it! If you don't want to become a manager and work over 50 hours a week then you need not apply to Trader Joe's. It is a dead-end company with little integrity. I am not trying to tell you not to shop there, however,just know how it is from the other side of the register.

[Todd]

Well, Colin has an interesting perspective. I am an industry F&B professional with a background in hotel/restaurant F&B, and find TJs a welcome arena for employment. ALL retail employers(including restaurant and hotel f&b) are riddled with abuse problems, as are every other high-stress customer contact positions. I think that TJs approach is positive and moving in the right direction. Do you think that there is a reason that they are not unionized??? Maybe because they provide solid wages and good insurance?? Others should follow the lead.

[Todd]

Sorry, the above message should have been directed to Katrina.

[Jeni Couri]

Can I order Trader Joe's via phone or e-mail?

[Jeni Couri]

Can I order trader joes online or by phone.

[Ban Daine]

It is good to ask questions about Trader Joe's. Here are some answers. First of all for Todd's posting on November 14th...Trader Joe's job postings usually quote a figure of 10 to 12 dollars an hour for start out pay but once your application is done you are offered 8.50 per hour.
Let's say you are able to secure 9.50 per hour...you are now called a "part-timer" and expected to be available for close to forty hours per week. Your "solid" take home is around 560 dollars for two weeks. That is a step in the right direction if you're 15. You are right about the insurance, it is the TJ's business card of employment solicitation. I would compare the quality of this HMO program to the quality of their retail king...Charles Shaw (more fondly known as two buck chuck).

Now for the kicker...You will not find Trader Joe's on the NYSE because it is privately owned. The owner's name is Theo Albrecht, a German billionare who bought the company from Joe himself in 1979. Theo Albrecht is 82 years of age and fought in the second great war along with his brother...the ninth richest man in the world (oh yeah....forgot to mention that Theo is ranked somewhere around 13 or 14 richest in the world.

Happy shopping.

[Tim Johnson]

My wife works at Trader Joe's here in Westlake Ohio. She loves the atmosphere, and the attitude of the workforce (with the exception of one or two individuals).

Being a Union man going on 10 years now, I can say that unionizing this store as some would suggest would only do the employees a diservice. There has been a few incidents of personal nature. But that goes on in any workplace.

My wife has never complained about other employees. And has stated she's had more problems with customers.

[Christa]

LOOKING FOR TRADER JOE'S PRODUCTS ONLINE??
CLICK MY NAME BELOW AND YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO MY EBAY STORE. IF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, SIMPLY EMAIL ME A REQUEST AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU!! CHRISTA :D

[Ben]

Does anyone know if Trader Joe's drug tests?

[Robbie]

In 2005, I had a female employee yell at me because she believed I made a mess of the salad section, which I did not. I walked away without saying anything to her, as she appeared to be very angry and volatile. I moved along with my shopping and she came up to me in the frozen section, stopping my cart with her hands and holding it. She wanted confrontation, stating, "I know you messed-up my salad area, and I would appreciate it if you would not do that". I told her I have always put things back, and I was in shock that she was being so bold! She continued to be cocky, rude and confrontational. I told her to leave me alone, she would not let go of my cart, so I looked at her and strongly asked her to leave me alone to my shopping,and that the subject was over. She ran off crying into the stock room, and her boyfriend who appeared under the influence of something, told me he was a manager and to stay away from the salad area when she was stocking. I later found out that he was of no management in the store. From that time, I was harassed everytime I went into the store by this "boyfriend". I reported it, but no one did anything about it except stating they would talk with these two employees. This only made matters worse for me. I wrote to the vice president who called me and contacted the manager. The vice president was very courteous and supportive with me, and angry with the management. I met with the manager who was very defensive with me and simply stated this female that harassed me was a hard worker. I told him no customer should ever put up with this, and that I did not deserve to be treated this way. I'm one of those customers that buys the trader joe's bags and bags my groceries to help out, I return my cart after emptying it, and always courteous, personable to all the employees. I did not return to trader joes in my neighborhood for two years. Just recently I started shopping there with no problems. Then all of a sudden, the guy that does the samples started making a big deal of me being there, and everytime he sees me, he goes back to the stock room yelling warnings to this female employee whom I thought had left the store as her boyfriend had. I am now again being "set-up" and harassed by these two employees of trader joe's not to mention the fact that everytime I leave and go back into my gated community, I am being followed aggressively by different cars with two guys in them who screech their tires and speed around my car. Today, I tried to get the license plate number with my cell, but they u-turned and sped out of my neighborhood at about 40 miles per hour. When this all initially started in 2005, I had much petty vandalism and trespassing on my property in the early morning hours, but when I called the police, they were already gone. Any suggestions? I'm single and living with my two young sons. I feel vulnerable and helpless with these bold, unstable people. I just don't understand why Trader Joe's tolerates this form of behavior. I have never had a problem in any other trader joe's nor any grocery store or market before. I feel I should be able to shop in my neighborhood without feeling threatened. sorry so long-winded, needed to get this off my chest.

[Kathy]

This is in response to Colin Highland's comments. You sound like no more than a disgruntled employee. Your comments and allegations are outragous and unfounded. My husband is a manager at Trader Joes. He has never sexually harrassed anyone, and he has an incredible work ethic and integrity. How dare you speak like that!

Now....Where in the world have you ever seen a company with "perfect" employees? Where have you ever seen a "perfect" parent?? ALL companies have their struggles, because imperfect human people are running them!! To trash a whole company as a "cult" filled with "managers who sexually harass employees", "alcoholics" and "drug addicts". My husband does not drink nor smoke. There are many others just like him.

I LOVE that Trader Joe's is not unionized. Look at what the unions have done to grocery companies like Albertons, Vons, and Ralphs! They are going down the tubes!! Because of the union, checkers make $17.00 per hour (and UP) with tremendous medical and dental benefits. They beep groceries, for goodness sakes, and are paid more than many college educated professionals! Have you checked out the prices of these grocery chains? OUTRAGOUS!! They are passing all their costs to the consumer! Thankfully, Trader Joe's does not have to deal with that....they do not have to gouge their customers because of some meddling union.

The only thing you ARE right about is that if you get into management, you DO have to spend 50 hours per week (sometimes more) managing the store. In every industry, upper management tends to have to work longer hours than the "Average Joe." Managers do have to sacrifice more time....movie film producers, actors, and actresses sometimes spend MONTHS on set, dedicating their time to their trade. So? Tell me what is new about this?

Trader Joe's is a great company, and while not ALL employees are perfect, they DO strive to make their customers happy and have a pleasant, unique shopping experience. My husband works VERY HARD to make this a reality.

You owe the hard workers out there an apology.