What’s Up with Trader Joe’s?

For some going to Trader Joe’s is an emotional journey, a place to go to let go of all of your troubles and focus on fancy food. I feel like there is this preconceived notion that everything at Trader Joe’s is healthy and delicious which is not wrong, but that can be said about any supermarket so what makes this one so special?


Trader Joe’s uses bright colors and whimsical packaging to make its products more appealing. Fun names or highlighting unique ingredients makes products engaging and intriguing to customers. There is always something new with a funky name to try!

Trader Joe’s uses bright colors and whimsical packaging to make its products more appealing. Fun names or highlighting unique ingredients makes products engaging and intriguing to customers. There is always something new with a funky name to try!

Sabrina Portnoy, Bear Hub Staff

When Trader Joe’s opened its store in Germantown outside of Memphis in Tennessee, more than 500 people reportedly waited in line, but why? According to CNBC, Trader Joe’s makes sure its employees are engaging with customers. What might seem as miniscule as good customer service, actually has a really big impact on how much customers are willing to pay. A global survey done in 2018 suggests that customers will pay up to 16% more for products with good customer service.
The grocery chain reaches out to a variety of customers from the health-conscious to the penny-pinching, and is rising in the ranks of the American grocery market.

Trader Joe’s focuses on eco-friendly policies which have the dual effect of being more sustainable and lowering costs for shoppers. By making their products perceived as high end and maintaining reasonable prices, Trader Joe’s has become a household name.

Health, or rather the illusion of it, is another factor that influences shoppers to choose Trader Joe’s. A lot of the packaged products also had a healthier bend to them. This section of chips featured “reduced guilt” potato chips that are supposed to be healthier than regular brands.

Now that you know the real reason why Trader Joe’s is the number 3 most shopped at store in the United States, let’s see why students at EBHS think Trader Joe’s is so popular:

Trader Joe’s is definitely popular right now because it sort of has that hippie, indie, earthy, aesthetic that’s becoming really popular.

— Alefiya Presswala, 11


Yummy. Illusion of Health. Elitism.

— Nora Hennessey, 11


Because their employees wear Hawaiian shirts

— Lillian Love, 11


Because the employees flirt with you

— Sydney Yu, 11

From the superb customer service to the homey, healthy small business vibes, Trader Joe’s has focused on all of the little details in order to stand out, and it definitely paid off.