Trader Joe's coming to Austin!! (West, Howe: home, purchase, cost)

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by shmatbert

But what am I missing? All the suburban moms I know are crazy about Trader Joes. I feel like a stranger in a foreign land because there is clearly something happening at TJs that doesn't compute for me.

Let me break it down for you...

1) The prices are lower than Whole Foods.

2) By design, the selection is smaller... much smaller... TJs carries 1/10 the number of skews of WF or other supermarkets, and has much more compact displays. That makes shopping there a lot less overwhelming than WF can sometimes be. It's quick and easy to find something interesting to grab for dinner there.

3) By design, the selection is more special, which they style as "innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods." Rather than carrying the same brands and same items as other groceries, a very large portion of what TJs carries is unique to them. The Trader in Trader Joe's comes from the fact that their business started on the premise of searching out unique gourmet items from small producers all over the globe, buying huge lots, and then offering them at better prices than you would pay at specialty shops. Obviously that strategy had to evolve in order to be able to supply 350+ stores, but the concept is the same.

3a) Innovative. They introduce 10-15 new items every week, which makes it fun to look for and try "what's new?" And they contract for special combination items that then customers get fanatic about. I mean, fanatic!

3b) Hard to Find. You will absolutely see specialty items, often from foreign countries, which you have never seen before. Unless you're from "there."

3c) Great Tasting. One of the reasons people get fanatic about particular TJ items. They're not just different, they're often really, really good, without the horrendous price tags of WF offerings.

OK, I'm going to stop here, because I think they will be mobbed once they open in Austin, so I don't really need to convince anybody.

But maybe just one more... I really like the goofy Hawiian shirt, ship's bell clanging ambiance. It's much more approachable than the too-hip-for-you attitude that keeps creeping into the WF experience.

[shmatbert]

Thanks OpenD - I appreciate the information. On some points, I would need to agree to disagree with you, but I really get some of the points now. Some of the characteristics that are very appealing to you (which you described wonderfully) aren't my top shopping priorities - and that is why I haven't understood the TJs passion before. I can see how they satisfy a lot your needs very well. Question asked and answered thanks to you! Have a great day!

[mimimomx3]

Ok, they're coming, I'm willing to go in with an open mind. I get that it's cheaper, and it's quick to go in and out, and what they sell is innovative and tastes good. So....give me a shopping list of your top 5 things. If you were going to run over after work today, what would you buy? Be specific, I really want to learn.

[S&AMOM]

I didn't "get" TJ's when I first started shopping there but now I love it! I love the fact their brand does not use GMO ingredients. I love their organic offerings. I do miss the bulk section from WF (we don't have one nearby in our state) but I buy certain items over and over at TJ's and I think it's a great value. I also love the new and limited time offerings.

[mark311]

Originally Posted by MtnLion512

I think we all have that one place that's wildly popular yet we are mystified as to why....for me it's Pluckers.

Mine is Mighty Fine Burgers. I just don't get the hype.

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by mark311

Mine is Mighty Fine Burgers. I just don't get the hype.

Agree 100%. Mighty Bland Burgers.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Let me break it down for you...

1) The prices are lower than Whole Foods.

2) By design, the selection is smaller... much smaller... TJs carries 1/10 the number of skews of WF or other supermarkets, and has much more compact displays. That makes shopping there a lot less overwhelming than WF can sometimes be. It's quick and easy to find something interesting to grab for dinner there.

3) By design, the selection is more special, which they style as "innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods." Rather than carrying the same brands and same items as other groceries, a very large portion of what TJs carries is unique to them. The Trader in Trader Joe's comes from the fact that their business started on the premise of searching out unique gourmet items from small producers all over the globe, buying huge lots, and then offering them at better prices than you would pay at specialty shops. Obviously that strategy had to evolve in order to be able to supply 350+ stores, but the concept is the same.

3a) Innovative. They introduce 10-15 new items every week, which makes it fun to look for and try "what's new?" And they contract for special combination items that then customers get fanatic about. I mean, fanatic!

3b) Hard to Find. You will absolutely see specialty items, often from foreign countries, which you have never seen before. Unless you're from "there."

3c) Great Tasting. One of the reasons people get fanatic about particular TJ items. They're not just different, they're often really, really good, without the horrendous price tags of WF offerings.

OK, I'm going to stop here, because I think they will be mobbed once they open in Austin, so I don't really need to convince anybody.

But maybe just one more... I really like the goofy Hawiian shirt, ship's bell clanging ambiance. It's much more approachable than the too-hip-for-you attitude that keeps creeping into the WF experience.

One example is that trader joes had these totally awesome truffles for like 6.99 in a bulk pack. Truffles from godiva or whatever were like 2.99 each. Nowadays you can find truffles similar to the TJ truffles everywhere, but we have been getting them for about 6 years I think.

Another is mochi - ice cream inside a sticky rice shell. Trader joes mochi are about 3.99 a box, whole foods is 6.99 or 7.99 a box.

Trader joes does not have a great fresh food selection, it is pretty much all prepackaged/prepared.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Ok, they're coming, I'm willing to go in with an open mind. I get that it's cheaper, and it's quick to go in and out, and what they sell is innovative and tastes good. So....give me a shopping list of your top 5 things. If you were going to run over after work today, what would you buy? Be specific, I really want to learn.

Mochi - we buy everytime we go there
pancake mix - my wife loves their banana pancake mix
brownie mix - they have a really good truffle brownie mix
seaweed strips - these you can actually get at the asian stores, but we like the trader joes version
Various frozen dinners - they have all sorts of ethnic frozen dinners

chocolate covered espresso beans -everyone has them now
truffles - everyone has them now

Im not a fan of their meat or produce

[Misty Rose]

I'm glad to see a Trader Joes coming to Austin. I've used their shampoo and conditioner before and loved it. Since I have very curly hair that tends to frizz, using regular shampoo dries my hair out too much. TJs shampoo contain nothing that strips hair of its natural oils.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by Austin97

Mochi - we buy everytime we go there
pancake mix - my wife loves their banana pancake mix
brownie mix - they have a really good truffle brownie mix
seaweed strips - these you can actually get at the asian stores, but we like the trader joes version
Various frozen dinners - they have all sorts of ethnic frozen dinners

chocolate covered espresso beans -everyone has them now
truffles - everyone has them now

Im not a fan of their meat or produce

Well, thanks for that! Now I know what to try.