The perfect grocery store.
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Yesterday a trip to the grocery store was overdue. I dreaded it. I put it off, delaying the trip, and distracting myself with everything else, even laundry. By the time I made it to the grocery store I was in full-on rush mode, flying through grabbing what I could in the short time available before picking up my kids from school.
It brought about a stream of thoughts, wondering why I detested going to the grocery store so much. It is an expensive trip every time, for sure. That’s one thing I suppose. But it’s clean and safe, and there are nice people there. So why such dread?
What would make me want to go grocery shopping or at least help prod me out the door? With that thought in mind I began to create the perfect grocery shopping experience. What would make the perfect grocery store? There are a few stores that have nice features.
You know the ones.
The ones with cereal for $7 a box, or no reasonable paper products, so you end up going to the “regular” grocery store anyway to fill the gaps on the shopping list. Then there’s the store in the next county over that has my favorite coffee shop inside the store. But can I justify a trip 20+ minutes out of the way so I can clutch a giant mocha like it’s the consolation prize for having to endure the drudgery of grocery shopping?
Yes, I understand that grocery shopping is a chore. It’s something we all have to do at least once in a while. But why can’t it be fun too? I say it can.
Here are a few ideas to create my perfect grocery shopping experience. Please add any others you may have.
1. The basics. Clean stores, with wide aisles that can comfortably fit two cart widths, with wheel on those carts that don’t shake or rattle. That’s basic enough.
2. Pretty colors. This ain’t rocket science. Nice colors evoke nice feelings. Personally I’m into calming greens, blues and browns. But ask Martha. I’m sure she’d love to help.
3. Mood lighting. I hate overhead lighting. It’s necessary I know, but tone it down. There’s a store I get to occasionally that has mastered the lighting balance quite well. But they bomb on #1.
4. Music. How about a DJ? Let’s make it a party people. Take requests, have 80’s music shopping hour. There’s no reason we can’t bop to our favorite tune while cruising the aisles.
5. Electronic shopping carts. I’d really utilize a shopping cart with an electronic shopping list and layout of the store. Take the first five minutes in the store to check off needed items (or sync it with one you created at home) and if you leave that aisle missing an item, it lets you know you missed something there. And if you can’t find something, it will indicate with exact GPS positioning of your favorite item. You could also send in a song request to the DJ through your cart or order something from #6.
6. Coffee/smoothie bar. Yeah, I know, not very original. Many stores have this, but not all. It’s a must.
7. A different layout. Most grocery stores I visit have parallel rows. What if the store was laid out kinda like a wheel, with the DJ and coffee/smoothie bar in the center, and all rows radiating out from there? I can’t tell you how many times I forget something on row 1, to only realize it on row 20 (although #5 would help avoid that). If the store is laid out differently you could go up and down rows from a central point and scoot over to row (or spoke) 1 much more easily.
8. No more member cards. I’m spending money people. I should get the best deal you offer because I walked through the doors, not because I filled out a card with my personal information for you to share with who knows. Plus, grocers, if you have #4 and #6, I’ll be back anyway without feeling like I have to go there because I have a special card that gets me in on the deals.
Well, that’s a good start. I could only come up with 8 right now. Would be nice to have a nice round list of 10, but i’m sure you’ve got a few ideas of your own.
Care to share? Let’s create the perfect grocery store, even if it only exists in our dreams.
Happy shopping! Maybe we can meet up for shopping sometime and visit as we stroll the aisles.
The HEB Central Markets in Texas are a lot like what you described here, Amy. I miss them SO SO much. Even normal HEB I miss. I’ll tell you though, one thing I would definitely do if I could, is talk shopping cart manufacturers into making the European style shopping carts. They’re *exactly* the same as US shopping carts except for one key difference: ALL 4 WHEELS ROTATE. It makes maneuvering around the aisles so much easier and less frustrating, and the carts don’t seem to have nearly the ‘issues’ that the ones in the US do, with only the front wheels being able to rotate. Imagine All-wheel drive for your shopping cart. It’s pretty damned cool.
With lots of organic options and ALL of the GMO containing foods labeled so you can easily spot and avoid them. And BPA free packaging. And just less packaging all around.
Back to your #1, what’s with the filthy grocery store bathrooms? There is a Kroger near me where I ended up complaining about the seriously offensive bathroom every time I had to avail myself of the facilities. That does not make for confident food purchasing folks. I simply don’t shop there anymore.
totally with you on #4 — some of these stores make me feel so old with their music choices!! #7 our local fresh market actually has diagonal lines which is cool —
here’s my #9 I wish that all of the customer service people were like people at Trader Joe’s AND/OR Whole Foods– HELPFUL! Friendly people!
I love the electronic shopping cart idea! How about a personal shopper to push that cart through the store and fill it with the items on my list, while I hang out at the coffee bar?
Here’s one to add to the list – put all the organic and regular products together. If I want to price green beans, I want to see all the green beans together. I don’t want to have to go to the other end of the store to the “organic section” and then back to the regular aisle. A little common sense would go a long way, too. For example – put the cupcake liners next to the cake mixes, not in the “pots & pans” section of the store. If you make it too hard on me, I’ll find another store. It’s just that simple. My HEB Market is the closest to perfection I’ve found in a long, long time. That’s why I love them. Wide aisles, clean store, good lighting, and great music. Oh, and they have a coffee bar.
The perfect store would be like the Jetsons – just tell the fridge or whatever, what it is that you need. I guess that’s kind of like the fridges that let you make notes of what you’re out of and it prints out only with that you still have to go and get the food.
I agree about the wide aisles. I recently went to a newish store and was downright baffled by the tiny carts and tiny aisles. If it’s new – totally built from the ground up, why couldn’t they have planned better? I’ll never go back in there with kids… that’s for sure!
Carts that don’t squeek or wobble or pull in one direction or another. How about carts that are sanitized too. Sure they leave wipes out but they’re not always refilled. Carts with straps big enough to hold a normal 18mo would be awesome – two 5″ straps are not going to work. Maybe even more kids carts… okay you see where I’m going with that. Kid friendly to a degree.
My biggest complaint is probably lack of mirrors. If a video store can have mirrors around the top of the wall – why can’t a grocery store? It’d make turning less of a hassle. No more bumping into people or almost bumps.
Mr Grocer: I know it’s all about getting us all over the store so you put the most important things as far away as possible, like milk, butter and eggs. But try dealing with an injury and hating shopping because the things you need most are so far away.
Also, please think about keeping food stuffs at least together. You might actually be losing some business because you choose to put snack items and crackers away from all the other food stuffs and force me to walk past batteries, cards, flowers and more.
And maybe if every reiterates #8 you might consider how ‘Big Brother’ that is. I should not be denied the best prices simply because I see no reason for you to have access to my personal information. Even just having my phone number is intrusive enough and I resent it EVERY time I’m required to find that stupid card. How about just giving us the best prices possible without feeling a need to have information that is really none of your business?
On a positive note, well sort of. My favorite store, an Albertson’s closed recently. It is really hard to adjust after 19 years. I had my routine down…Costco then Albertson’s. While I love Sunflower Market that took it’s place; it’s not where I will shop for a lot of products as it is not a full service store. The other store near me is not between my home and Costco so I’ve got extra traveling time on my schedule now. I was lamenting this to a friend and she asked why I didn’t shop at a different King Soopers (Kroger here in Denver) near me and the truth is, while not as convenient as Albertson’s, it was less of an inconvenience than my new routine. But that’s not the reason for this story…the reason addresses Amy’s number three. The lighting. It’s dramatically different, a softer more diffuse light that makes the walk through the store NOT remind me of what prison lights must feel like. I’m glad to read I’m not alone. Fluorescent lighting is a cancer on the shopping experience! PLUS they have music and a coffee bar. Now if only I could get them to move dairy upfront.
Love the spoke idea….and the no more cards. My favorite store doesn’t use cards and that makes me very, very happy! 🙂 Bring on the DJ!
Well said! I totally agree with you 100%… especially on having carts with wheels that don’t rattle or shake! LOL!!
Gorgeous lighting in these photos. Thanks for the great tips on creating a nice shopping experince. Some grocery stores give me a headache.
Amen to no more member cards!
Oh my goodness! I absolutely put off grocery shopping until the last possible moment. I know how you feel.
I think I’d love some virtual grocery shopping where I can go online and see the date the items were stocked, where they came from, and a live shot of the item. Then have them ready for me to pickup or better yet, have them delivered and put away in my house. Now, doesn’t that sound pretty awesome.
And another thing, why not just do away with coupons while getting rid of the member cards. Just give everyone the best price regardless if they clip coupons or not. Never have understood why that didn’t happen anyway.
I’m totally with you on the no member cards. More often than not we go to the same store all the time…why not just give out the discount to everyone that is there. I’m also with you on better music. My store plays a Lite FM station which is fine but something with a bit more of a beat would totally put me in a better mood.
i love this! i agree with the lighting on especially, as a photography, those nasty overhead lights just kill me. it’s unpleasant!
i’d also add one thing. put the milk, butter, bread, etc in the FRONT of the store, not the back. those are basics and it’s annoying that you have to walk through the whole store to get them (although, I suppose that’s the point, so you’ll buy more stuff).
I have no other ideas for you, but I love your list. Love the electronic cart idea. Brilliant!
Totally agree with you about the store member cards. My main (totally unrealistic) wish is that I could get EVERYTHING I wanted, in the exact brand I wanted at one store.I’d even pay a little extra for items just for that luxury. Going to three different stores to get what I need is no fun!
I shop my regional grocery chain as a vote against a certain box store.
I wish the fruit was fresher…..it is unacceptable to pick up 10-12 quarts of strawberries just to find one quart that is not rotting.
Label GMO foods….all of them.
Keep organic milk stocked…I have making 3 trips just to buy milk.
Put all the scented cleaning products way far away from the food. It is distracting.
Very clever! I go to the grocery store almost every day because it is in the basement of the building I work in, and that way I can just pick up exactly what I’m going to make for dinner (and sometime what is on sale) and not spend too much time stockpiling. I LOVE the electronic cart idea!
I’m just thrilled when they actually carry organic produce at my grocery store, which is not often. I’m totally with you on the DJ, too… There’s nothing worse than leaving the store after a stressful, crowded-aisle, slow walking people grocery trip than to get in the car and realize that I have a Celine Dion song in my head.
Oh yes, I want to go to a store like that too! Why aren’t you in charge?