Amidst the headlines of war and world violence is the caption, 'Americas Least Favorite Supermarkets.' Are you serious? Apparently, we Americans take our grocery shopping experiences very seriously. So much, in fact, that it has become a contender for headline space in world news. Now even though I find this to be comical (how many times can grocery stores be surveyed?) there is a serious underlining factor; the economy. Because, loss of sales produces loss of jobs which ultimately gives way to communities suffering by loss of revenue, which produces more job layoffs, and lack of community services. And don't forget bank foreclosures. Who would've thought? So when you look at it that way, I guess these companies play a big part in this economical merry-go-round.
For the last six months I have seen more and more articles on this subject popping up. Each facet of the business is researched, surveyed and commented on. But apparently these companies are not listening, because more articles continue to weigh in on the dissatisfaction of the everyday consumer. This most recent article, referenced ten grocery chains. Fifty percent of the companies were originated in the Nineteenth Century while the remaining opened their doors between the years 1957 to 1962. Now the complaints of the consumers are simple enough;' long lines, rude employees, unsanitary conditions along with prices and selection.' Sounds like easy fixes to me, so what's the problem?
As a consumer, myself, I find that all grocery stores seem to be alike. Each company seems to mirror the other company; what one does, they will all end up doing. Customers are now card carriers, prices are more or less comparative and no one seems to have enough employees to help the customers anymore. And, yet, with all of the business experience that these companies should have acquired, over the 100 plus years of being in business, they remain just carbon copies of each other.
So I got to thinking about what it would have been like opening a grocery store over a hundred years ago, well even fifty years ago for that matter. The first thing, that popped into my mind, would have been pride. A new business owner would have been proud and made sure that the customer was offered the best products; freshest produce. Employees would have been respectful and worked hard for their meager wages. And as time went on, they probably would have remained and grown with the business. Each new store would have offered something special to their customers; cuts of meat, certain types of baked goods. Whatever the specialty, it is that one thing which would have made the customers want to come back. At that time the customers seemed to have been in charge. It was their patronage that was a priority to a new, upcoming business. Today, it is a little backward; companies dictate as to how the consumer will shop.
From what I can see, bigger is not better and wisdom (business) does not come with age; consumers will continue to hunt for that grocery store haven while surveys and studies will continue to provide us, the consumer, with what we already know. And will grocery stores ever change? Probably not these companies, for there are new stores coming onto the scene that could turn out to be contenders for the consumer dollar. And it is with this change that old companies just might become a mere memory.
As an employee, of a grocery store, I see where we exhibit one thing that other grocery stores do not; our people. Like the stores that opened over one hundred years ago, we seem to carry on the trend of trying to provide the customers with the best service, working hard for their patronage alas, making that our trademark.
After all, it's just a matter of pride.
Talk at ya later!
For the last six months I have seen more and more articles on this subject popping up. Each facet of the business is researched, surveyed and commented on. But apparently these companies are not listening, because more articles continue to weigh in on the dissatisfaction of the everyday consumer. This most recent article, referenced ten grocery chains. Fifty percent of the companies were originated in the Nineteenth Century while the remaining opened their doors between the years 1957 to 1962. Now the complaints of the consumers are simple enough;' long lines, rude employees, unsanitary conditions along with prices and selection.' Sounds like easy fixes to me, so what's the problem?
As a consumer, myself, I find that all grocery stores seem to be alike. Each company seems to mirror the other company; what one does, they will all end up doing. Customers are now card carriers, prices are more or less comparative and no one seems to have enough employees to help the customers anymore. And, yet, with all of the business experience that these companies should have acquired, over the 100 plus years of being in business, they remain just carbon copies of each other.
So I got to thinking about what it would have been like opening a grocery store over a hundred years ago, well even fifty years ago for that matter. The first thing, that popped into my mind, would have been pride. A new business owner would have been proud and made sure that the customer was offered the best products; freshest produce. Employees would have been respectful and worked hard for their meager wages. And as time went on, they probably would have remained and grown with the business. Each new store would have offered something special to their customers; cuts of meat, certain types of baked goods. Whatever the specialty, it is that one thing which would have made the customers want to come back. At that time the customers seemed to have been in charge. It was their patronage that was a priority to a new, upcoming business. Today, it is a little backward; companies dictate as to how the consumer will shop.
From what I can see, bigger is not better and wisdom (business) does not come with age; consumers will continue to hunt for that grocery store haven while surveys and studies will continue to provide us, the consumer, with what we already know. And will grocery stores ever change? Probably not these companies, for there are new stores coming onto the scene that could turn out to be contenders for the consumer dollar. And it is with this change that old companies just might become a mere memory.
As an employee, of a grocery store, I see where we exhibit one thing that other grocery stores do not; our people. Like the stores that opened over one hundred years ago, we seem to carry on the trend of trying to provide the customers with the best service, working hard for their patronage alas, making that our trademark.
After all, it's just a matter of pride.
Talk at ya later!
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