[graciegirl]

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.

I so agree. I am always surprised that folks think that any entity would spend millions and millions of dollars either building a building or completely restructuring one, completely stocking the facility, let alone hiring managers and workers and getting them insurance and spending enormous amounts of money on advertising and rent.............on anything but solid researched numbers.

ALWAYS SURPRISED.

And some folks even blame the people who are the developers. Being a for profit business is not a bad thing. But that is another rant for me.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by barbnick

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

You may not realize TJ’s has been in retail for over 60 years. If one shopped there in their 20s, they will still drive an hour to shop in their 60-70 and 80s.

Yes TJs is near college towns, because it’s a healthy alternative at good prices, than other grocery. But it’s their parents who introduced them to TJs, and that’s why 20-50yo shop their stores.

We had 6 TJs within 30 minutes or less, we shopped weekly, along with our area farm to table bounty of fresh produce, dairy, and protein. Now we drive to TJs every 2 weeks, we are not the only retirees there.

[charlie1]

Originally Posted by 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.
-

Retailers look at ALL of the above information and much more! They will even get buying habits of the people within a specified radius to determine if the new locations has a high probably of success. They look for areas where there is a high concentration of residence that meet their target demographic.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by 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.
-

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.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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.

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.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by ithos

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.

The statistics prove you wrong.

No kidding? Are you suggesting that Trader Joe's, opens stores in areas that have a demographic that's consistent with their customer base? Shocking news.

[HORNET]

Why ?

[Dusty_Star]

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've shopped at both, love TJ's. Seemingly they are owned by brothers, but have no other connection. They are very different, but with some similarities. TJ's certainly does bag your groceries, & you do not rent a cart. TJ's to me seems cleaner & more well run. They do have more employees on the floor than Aldi & many more cashiers. TJ's does have more food items for sale & much less non-food, than Aldi. Aldi's been fun, but I would trade it for a TJ's in a heartbeat.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

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?

Correct. Additionally, while they may not be saying it currently TJ's in the past has said that they DO take requests into consideration. Now, everyone else was right saying that requests alone won't do it & that they have departments whose job it is to analyze potential locations. They appear to want high discretionary income. But they also lean towards high discretionary income that wants to spend that money at Trader Joes. That's where we come in.

[Calisport]

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

[bshuler]

I read an article on trying to get a Trader Joes in your area. It’s nearly impossible. They are looking for an edgy “progressive” demographic. The article described the target customer as a 30-50 year old woman who drives a Suburu and composts. Or about anywhere in California..

Take a cooler and drive 60 miles to Orlando at Morse & Orlando Ave in Winter Park. There is a Shake Shack next door (worth the trip!) Stock up!

[thelegges]

Heading up for an overnight to TJ’s in Gainesville this afternoon, along with WF. Then dinner at a great restaurant. We prefer Gainesville (except first week of UF students) quicker for us up I75, than Orlando

[DebMil]

Trader Joe's has constant recalls..I would choose another.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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.

Thats what people said when I said Costco was about to come here

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Calisport

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

What "fees" are unique to The Villages?