Originally Posted by charlie1 (Post 2380719)

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.

Originally Posted by barbnick (Post 2380707)

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

Originally Posted by ithos (Post 2380728)

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.
-

Originally Posted by ithos (Post 2380728)

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.
-

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2380785)

I'd say the folks at Trader Joe's are fairly astute. I've never seen one of them close up.

I suspect you've never been in a TJ's, because your characterization of the TV market, runs contrary to TJ's demographic.

TJ's typically opens new locations in established areaa, not those under going "expansion". Every one I've ever seen, is in an area with a much higher per capita income than TV, with much more expensive homes.

Raw population #'s aren't very relevant, their market analysis is predicated on how many people in their desired demographic, live within 30 minutes of a potential location.

The "average" TJ customer, is a White or Asian, 44 year married female, who earns over $80,000/year. Not many of them in TV.

Originally Posted by ithos (Post 2380797)

I have been to Trader Jacks numerous times and yes the average customer is probably around 44 because I have observed plenty of shoppers who are boomers, millennials and younger. The demos usually match the surrounding area.

When people get older there is a tendency not to stay out as late but their food preferences don't change that much unless they have to live on a smaller budget.

Great food selection at lower prices will always be a draw to all ages. We are talking grocery stores not hip nightclubs.

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 2380484)

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.

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2380737)

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?

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2380409)

Exactly right. The VIllages at this point, doesn't meet their demographic profile, for a number of reasons.

... maybe 5-10 years from now, but don't hold your breathe.

Originally Posted by Calisport (Post 2380840)

I agree. We don't need more junk food. TJs years ago passed up on The Villages and their fees to open here.