The other day I stopped by Whole Foods to pick up some snacks/food for work. I don't go there often, but I find my trips to Whole Foods are pleasantly enjoyable. Now I know what some of you are thinking, gahh..Whole Foods..a supermarket meant for yuppie consumers following the organic trend of America. I'm not going to lie and say that this is not the case; however, what I am going to say is that this presumed judgement of the image of Whole Foods customers can be environmentally sourced.
Location, location, location. For any business, it's all about location. Many Whole Foods stores are strategically located in neighborhoods that are well developed and financially stable. Obviously you need customers that find the prices at Whole Foods affordable, and convenient enough for them to stop by (e.g., Wayne, PA...there are 3 alone in Cambridge, MA!).
More than meets the eye. Supermarkets are indeed just that--super. To many, going to a supermarket can be an overwhelming experience. I, personally, love grocery shopping. Don't ask me why, but I do. Perhaps it brings back my childhood memories, riding in those wiry, metal carts, organizing each item by size and item as my parents carelessly tossed each item in. But I digress. Whole Foods tends to mitigate this anxiety by implementing that same feel you would get at a local farmer's market but having more of a variety. It still upholds that idea of buying locally, and some items organically, as if you just bought your groceries straight from the farmer, but enabling you to purchase different items in one place. There are many criticisms out there about this topic alone but to be honest, I just really care that they have my banana chocolate pound cake, coffee flavored soymilk, self-making trailmix, TLC oatmeal trailmix cookies, and others of that sort.
People pleasers. I was stopped by at least 3 workers while shopping for 30mins. This usually gets annoying in other venues like retail stores, but in supermarkets it's rather dire to have this constant presence. I know for me, there have been plenty of times, too many to count, where I'm hunting down not only a particular item in the supermarket, but also a worker to help me hunt that item down. Why does that happen? It's almost as if they all plot against you to play hide and go seek at that exact moment when you're in despair AND on a time crunch. When you do eventually spot one, they either look too busy/engrossed in stocking, are the people behind the deli counter, or those high school teens that catch your eye and turn the other way. But back to my story. As I was searching through the aisle for some darn good oatmeal cookies, an employee approached me and asked what type of cookie I was looking for? Crunchy or chewy? Raisins or without? Big or small? It seemed a bit peculiar at first, but to my dismay he helped me narrow down to what became a newfound love--TLC oatmeal trailmix cookies! If this isn't thoughtful, then I don't know what is--especially at a supermarket.
Hate it or love it. You either hate or love Whole Foods. And I have to say, I've fallen for their plan--I'm a yuppie Whole Foods consumer.
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4 comments:
so here's a thought. i will bet a steak dinner on the chances that the poser yuppies are deeply insecure people that cover their neuroses with too much uppity social awareness (c'mon, there can be something as being TOO hype with absolutely no agenda but to be vocal with the masses) and participation in yuppie convention. like happy hours, consignment shops, and gossiping about the latest celeb who has a newfound conscience to "end" poverty.
buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut -- whole foods has the best damn peanut butter ever. i think we've had this conversation before.
joechai is sippin' on the haterade! i really don't hate yuppies. in fact, i might embody some yuppie qualities. GAHHH.
wow. all i hear is 'hate, hate, hate'. haha but i see where you are comin from..but let's be frank here, i mean who doesn't love their PB and cookies and etc.??? they make it hard to hate the place.
ps. mm..did you say steak..??
Oi, achei teu blog pelo google tá bem interessante gostei desse post. Quando der dá uma passada pelo meu blog, é sobre camisetas personalizadas, mostra passo a passo como criar uma camiseta personalizada bem maneira.(If you speak English can see the version in English of the Camiseta Personalizada. Thanks for the attention, bye). Até mais.
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