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11 Reasons People Join the Cult of Trader Joe’s
Looking for Kool Aid? You won’t find it at Trader Joe’s. You will find naturally flavored fruit drink mix with no high fructose corn syrup. I’m drinking the off-brand Kool Aid.
Trader Joe’s has many fans roaming the world. You can find them with their reusable shopping bags, raving about new flavors, and boasting about their health-conscious treats. Many of their shoppers are have renounced the name brands and reserved their money for the Trader Joe’s line of foods. As a company, Trader Joe’s embodies more than just groceries, it’s a full experience.
It’s funny to think a grocery story can become a lifestyle brand. In many ways, it makes sense. People eat food daily, and some diets define groups of people. Trader Joe’s is different, because doesn’t follow dietary restrictions. It supports vegan, gluten-free, and diary-free diets, but it also had chicken and white bread. Trader Joe’s isn’t so much defined by the food it sells, it’s more defined by its customer experience and cost-friendliness.
Trader Joe’s has earned a cult-like reputation. If you get one of their shoppers talking about the brand, you’re in for a long conversation. But it’s for good reason. Trader Joe’s gives people a lot of reasons to love their experience.
When the Business Saves, the Customer Saves
Trader Joe’s is known for its affordable products, and it’s fairly obvious how they keep prices so low. The majority of their products come from their own private brands, meaning they don’t rely on outside vendors to set prices. This can create a unique flavor experience, but it also keeps prices lower for customers.
Trader Joe’s is able to buy directly from the supplier. This keeps costs down so stores spend less stocking their shelves. For the most part, they’re only competing against other Trader Joe’s locations.
Low costs could have meant higher profit margins for Trader Joe’s, but they’d rather let the customers feel the impact of their direct purchases. Instead, they use this as an investment in the customer experience. Trader Joe’s controls the cost and quality of their products. Customers keep coming back, so it’s clear this strategy works.
