Tracking Trader Joe's

New Fearless Flyer Today!

The Fall 2005 Fearless Flyer is now available! You can download the PDF file here, check your mailbox, or get one at your local store. I picked up my copy tonight, and there are a lot of new items.

Be sure to shop before the weekend as the stores are usually insane the first weekend the Fearless Flyer drops!

San Diego To Get Another Trader Joe's

According to a story published on SignOnSanDiego.com, a new Trader Joe's is scheduled to open in late 2006 or early 2007 in Chula Vista.

The 12,000-square-foot Trader Joe's would be in a proposed shopping center just north of the Eastlake Marketplace. The center would feature a 25,000-square-foot gourmet market, an 18,000-square-foot bookstore, restaurants and shops.

I know some people are wondering why San Diego will have 9 stores when they have been begging Trader Joe's to open even one store in their state.

How Do It Know?

The Slice of Pink blog has a photo of a funny sign from Trader Joe's that references the old joke about how the thermos is the greatest invention. This joke was told to me by an old friend and still makes me laugh:

Yogurt Berry Parait

Cathy at the CFO (Chief Family Officer) blog has a recipe for a yogurt berry parfait using Trader Joe's granola. I make them all the time for breakfast, but I use Trader Joe's Ginger Granola and strawberry yogurt (it tastes a lot better than it sounds).

Trader Joe's is Hiring

Found this post on Craig's List for part-time jobs at the San Rafael Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's, San Rafael, is now accepting applications for all part-time positions. We offer great benefits after 90 days, competative pay, and a discount on food. We have early am stocking, mid-day cashier/stocking, and night (until 2am) positions available.

Please apply in person,between the hours of 9am-2pm,Monday through Thursday, at 337 3rd st , San Rafael. We are in the montecito shopping  plaza.

There are also a lot of jobs listed on the Trader Joe's Web site.

How Does Trader Joe's Do It?

Henry from the TrueHoop blog writes:

You know how it's always the big mystery as to how they can be organic, high-quality, and cheap? Cereal other people sell for $5 they have for $2. What gives?

I think I sort of figured it out. Regular grocery stores operate on very slim margins. Most things are let's say $3 or less--and a lot of things are less than a dollar. Many products have profits in the pennies.

Only a few products in the whole grocery store have significant markups. Well, Trader Joe's only sells those things. It doesn't sell much if any low-margin stuff like flour, eggs, regular milk, bagels, or white rice. It sells stuff like almonds, pomegranate juice, salmon, and wine. Those are $7 items that are still profitable at $5, especially if you don't have to pay the staff and overhead of a facility that is a one-stop shop. You get to have a smaller, cheaper store in which every square foot is filled with high profit items. And since you are not a one-stop shop, you don't even have to carry the same stuff all the time. If the price of lemons goes up, well the grocery store still has to carry them. But Trader Joe's can say forget it and not carry them that week. It's just a different business model, and one that lets you sell the expensive stuff cheaper.

I think he's figured out part of the Trader Joe's secret. Trader Joe's also has an extensive selection of private label products which are more profitable than the national brands.

Trader Joe's Pictures on Flickr

There is a growing collection of Trader Joe's photos on Flickr, the popular photo sharing service, which is now owned by Yahoo!

When is a Jar of Preserves Funny?

You'll find this photo funny or tasteless.