Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe store in 1967 in Pasadena, California. It has been an enormous success story and is now in many States throughout the United States. We found these fun facts about Trader Joes and thought you would enjoy reading them.
1. Trader Joe’s doesn’t give out just free samples. If you ask a team member, they will open anything in the store and let you try it — including the wine, depending on state laws.
2. Triple Ginger Snaps are Trader Joe’s most popular thing.
Not surprisingly, Speculoos Cookie Butter comes in at second.
3. As of 2012, Trader Joe’s has sold more than 600 million of its popular two-buck Chuck wine.
Except now it’s $2.49.
4. You may have noticed Trader Joe’s has no internal PA system in its stores like most supermarkets. Instead, it uses bells.
One bell means it is time to open a new register. Two bells, and someone has a question at checkout. Three bells, and it’s a request for the manager.
5. All Trader Joe’s stores are company owned.
6. Some Trader Joe’s products are limited run, so once they’re sold out, that’s it.
Trader Joe’s will also discontinue products, so there is a constantly rotating selection of items in the store.
7. Trader Joe’s keeps its prices so low that the store never offers weekly specials or sales on its products.
8. Trader Joe’s has a “no questions asked” return policy.
You can return whatever you want, for any reason. NO. QUESTIONS. ASKED.
9. Legend has it that the original Trader Joe came up with the idea for the tropical-themed store while on vacation in the Caribbean. He already owned a chain of convenience stores, but was facing stiff competition against 7-Eleven.
10. The Trader Joe’s crew wears Hawaiian shirts because they want to take customers on culinary travels.
They view themselves as “traders on the culinary seas.”
11. And Trader Joe’s treats its crew really well. Part-time employees can earn $20 an hour with FULL benefits and store managers can earn $130,000 a year.
12. Many Trader Joe’s have a toy or stuffed animal hidden somewhere in the store for kids to find.
Once they find the toy, they can bring it to customer service for a prize!
13. A normal Trader Joe’s sells only 4,000 items, while a typical supermarket sells 50,000.
14. Out of these items, 80% are Trader Joe’s own brand.
15. Trader Joe’s didn’t expand outside California until 1993 and didn’t open an East Coast store until 1996.
16. Every Trader Joe’s has its own in-house artist. Now you know where all those fancy blackboard illustrations come from!
17. Finally, EVERY Trader Joe’s has a plastic lobster displayed somewhere in the store.
Certainly, your Two Chums love going to Trader Joe’s. They offer wonderful items at great prices adding to more abundant lives!
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Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe store in 1967 in Pasadena, California. It has been an enormous success story and is now in many States throughout the United States. We found these fun facts about Trader Joes and thought you would enjoy reading them.
Fun facts–thank you. Love our local store here in IA (although the wine has always been ‘THREE buck chuck’ since opening day just a few years ago!
That’s interesting that the wine is THREE buck chuck! Still a bargain, we would say!
Favorite stop of the day! Thanks for the fun facts.
What a fascinating story this morning, ladies. I enjoy going into TJ’s once in awhile. I’ll start looking for some of these items and treasures from now on. I met Joe this past summer at The Hollywood Bowl. A very nice gentleman.
Yes, he is quite a gentleman, you are right!