[ithos]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

I read a couple days ago that they were considering either Ocala or The Villages for their next location, and chose The Villages. Maybe it’s false info, so I won’t hold my breath, but a girl can hope. We currently shop at the one in Dr. Phillips in combo with a Disney trip, which is only 3-4x annually. Would love to shop TJs weekly like in our former life.

Not only are their prices low but they have a huge variety of organic products and unique items that aren't sold elsewhere. Of course they also have a good selection of the comfort foods that most people crave.

If a Trader Joes comes to TV it will be as busy Aldi is especially if they build it between Brownwood and the turnpike. It has a cult following just as passionate if not more than that of Costco.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by scubawva

Look up definition of spam.

No matter how many people make a request it won’t happen. TJ’s has already looked at the area and made a business decision it’s not profitable.

I concur. Too many Villagers are happy to eat crap.

TJ's sells plenty of "Crap" too that will clog your arteries and promote cancer and diabetes just like Walmart, Aldi's and Publix.

[Tvflguy]

Absolutely. I’m in CA visiting my son. They have tons of TJs Love it. One would think since Aldi is a sister company.
They would convert a Winn Dixie to TJ. Please!!!!

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Tvflguy

Absolutely. I’m in CA visiting my son. They have tons of TJs Love it. One would think since Aldi is a sister company.
They would convert a Winn Dixie to TJ. Please!!!!

Trader Joe's and Aldi's are completely unrelated grocery chains in the USA.

For the folks tilting at windmills, here is TJ's customer profile and The Villages is not close.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Can't hurt, but it is probable that Trader Joe's locates their stores based more on solid research rather than on a letter-writing campaign.

Probably right but given enough requests they may revisit their past market research to see if the population density and demographics have changed

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I've never shopped at a Trader Joe's, though I've heard a lot of good things about them, largely from people who also patronize Aldi. Since both Aldi and Trader Joe's have the same parentage, so to speak, then I'm assuming that they're run similarly. Overall Aldi prices are not because of cheaper ingredients or a plethora of chemicals in their products, but because the stores run FAR more efficiently. Better-trained (and paid) workers, concentrate on the essentials (no bagging, shopping cart "service" that is pretty much self-serve, etc.), quick turnover of products, and a limit on the number of products sold (the average Aldi sells about 1,400 products while the average supermarket sells about 40,000) makes stocking far easier and quicker. I've rarely seen an Aldi with more than four workers on at a time. Publix? Probably 20 or more on average. Publix probably has huge overhead compared to Publix. That extra overhead translates into higher prices.

If Trader Joe's approach is similar, then I'd have no basis to believe that their products are any less healthy than, say, Publix. And I'd probably pay a heck of a lot less.

I really like TJ's, but I really dislike Aldi's. You are incorrect in your assumption that they are alike. They are not alike at all. Except both are small.

Since you admit you have never shopped at one or tried their wares, you may consider withholding your assumptions until you do. After which you may or may not like them but truth be told there are many who do.

It's not always the first trip there that hooks people. It's trying some of their stuff and developing a real preference for an item or two. Then you start trying other stuff there and realizing how much of it really is good and how reasonably priced it is. That's how you develop the fan base they have.

Oh- Trader Joe's and Aldi's are sibling companies, but they are not one owned by the other. It's a myth like the one about McDonald's owning Chipotle. Trader Joes is owned by the owner Aldi Nord. But the Aldi stores you see in the US are owned by Aldi Süd. The two are completely separate companies. Two brothers started a grocery chain in Germany. They split the chain when one wanted to carry cigarettes and the other did not. They bifurcated into two separate chains. It's kinda like Puma and Adidas. Two brothers who each started their own brand.

Here, this might help 'splain it: The Connection Between Trader Joe's And Aldi

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Back where I used to live I shopped once a month, (I ate their cereal exclusively for a number of years) and I miss some of the things that TJ’s has that nobody else carries.

And as far as them being overpriced, that is usually said by people that have never been there.

TJ’s, TJ’s, TJ’s!!

[jacksonla]

That was easy to send them a message. It won't hurt to ask.

[barbnick]

The Villages does not meet their demographic profile for location.
They want the 30 - 50 group

[Switter]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I've never shopped at a Trader Joe's, though I've heard a lot of good things about them, largely from people who also patronize Aldi. Since both Aldi and Trader Joe's have the same parentage, so to speak, then I'm assuming that they're run similarly. Overall Aldi prices are not because of cheaper ingredients or a plethora of chemicals in their products, but because the stores run FAR more efficiently. Better-trained (and paid) workers, concentrate on the essentials (no bagging, shopping cart "service" that is pretty much self-serve, etc.), quick turnover of products, and a limit on the number of products sold (the average Aldi sells about 1,400 products while the average supermarket sells about 40,000) makes stocking far easier and quicker. I've rarely seen an Aldi with more than four workers on at a time. Publix? Probably 20 or more on average. Publix probably has huge overhead compared to Publix. That extra overhead translates into higher prices.

If Trader Joe's approach is similar, then I'd have no basis to believe that their products are any less healthy than, say, Publix. And I'd probably pay a heck of a lot less.

Publix is overpriced and their meat department is abysmal. I am also completely conditioned to self check out. It annoys me that they don't have it at the Publix store near me.

I would like a Trader Joe's. I've never shopped there before but I know people who have and trust their judgment.

Right now it's Walmart and Costco in Claremont for me. Can't wait till we get our Costco!

[charlie1]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Can't hurt, but it is probable that Trader Joe's locates their stores based more on solid research rather than on a letter-writing campaign.

Being in retail for many years, areas to open stores is TOTALLY based on solid research. Exact location within the area is more subjective. It is amazing the amount of information is available and used to make the decision. Number of emails, even if they would by chance keep track, have never play a part in a decision.

[BlueStarAirlines]

Originally Posted by charlie1

Being in retail for many years, areas to open stores is TOTALLY based on solid research. Exact location within the area is more subjective. It is amazing the amount of information is available and used to make the decision. Number of emails, even if they would by chance keep track, have never play a part in a decision.

This is exactly accurate. When I was involved in opening locations we would never consider customer pleas just because it was so easy to organize campaigns where the data reflected the store couldn't be profitable...or even sustainable.

The easiest way to get a TJ is to make Sprouts and Fresh Market incredibly profitable and unable to keep up with the demands of those that live in and around TV for a sustained period of time.

When the demand and sales reflects that there is a large enough demographic to support a TJ and other related stores, then TJ could consider.

[ithos]

You very well may be right but there are other unique factors to The Villages that they may consider if they are astute:

Most people that live here have substantial revenue sources outside of Social Security and were in the middle to upper middle class when they retired.
The average home value in TV is well above 300k and is in a densely populated area that is experiencing significant expansion
The combined population of Lake and Sumter counties is over 500k.
The healthcare industry which have higher than average incomes is booming.
The logistics and distribution sector is growing rapidly.
-

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by charlie1

...Number of emails, even if they would by chance keep track, have never play a part in a decision.

Except that they provide a form and link directly on their website specifically to solicit requests for new store locations. This is not a generic email plea. They are asking for exactly that: new store location requests. Maybe a factor to your previous employer's new-store-locating guidelines that employer never bothered with. There's a reason some stores go out of business and some don't. Never seen a Trader Joe's go out of business - maybe their customers needs are more important to them than customers were to your previous employers?

[Nell57]

Thanks for the link.
I’ve been here 15 years and have sent this in many many times.
It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure someday it will. Wawa is new…Costco is coming….Middleton is a younger demographic. We are changing and TJ would definitely be profitable here.
When they see it, they will build.