OK, These posts from the Best of Craigslist just crack me up, so I had to share:
A Breakup Note to Trader Joe's
Rant- Trader Joe's
Friday, August 31, 2007
Rated in Top 25 Petitions Twice in 10 Days
Our Bring Trader Joe's to Nashville petition has seen so much action that it has made Petition Online's Top 25 Petitions List twice in the past 10 days, once on August 23rd and again today, August 31st.
You guys rock!
(I would add a link, but the list changes daily...)
You guys rock!
(I would add a link, but the list changes daily...)
The Scoop
OK, folks. I just got off the phone with Kelly in Customer Service from Trader Joe's Corporate. Here is what I learned:
1. Nashville is not included in the 2 year plans for expansion but,
"We will be moving that way, for sure."
I couldn't get more info about time-frame, but the confirmation that they are looking our way leads me to say, "Yippee!" as well as to say, "Told you so!" to the naysayers who said Trader Joe's would NEVER come to Nashville.
2. Liquor laws have absolutely nothing to do with where they expand. I thought that was a myth, but it is nice to have confirmation.
3. The roadblock is the creation of a distribution network for the area. This includes (but is not limited to) building / buying a warehouse that TJ's operates that is within at most a day's drive of the store. They wish to keep other aspects of their distribution process private, so that is the most I could get on that front. [I have had it suggested by someone who claims ties to the CEO that an inadequate supply of local vendors is part of the problem, but Kelly seemed to dismiss that.]
4. Location Request Forms filled out at Trader Joe's website go directly to the real estate department. She said it is the best department with which to communicate about such matters (FYI: they are the folks that I alerted about the creation of the petition last week).
5. Her response to having over 1000 signatures in 9 days: "Oh, wow!"
So what's the bottom line? I say we keep doing what we are doing with the petition and perhaps also each fill out the form at the website (above). If you've already done it, don't do it again. We don't need to antagonize them, just let them know we are waiting.
It also sounds like the real estate department could also benefit from information about specific properties in parts of town where we think they should expand.
It might even make sense to provide suggested locations for warehouses (so, for example, if they wanted to put in a warehouse in the Middle Tennessee area, it could service East and West Tennesse and also states north and south of us). I don't have specific requirements like square footage, but you can always call TJ's Corporate at 626-599-3700 if you think you have a good lead.
Will any of our efforts speed things along? I don't know. But I figure, it doesn't hurt to try!
1. Nashville is not included in the 2 year plans for expansion but,
"We will be moving that way, for sure."
I couldn't get more info about time-frame, but the confirmation that they are looking our way leads me to say, "Yippee!" as well as to say, "Told you so!" to the naysayers who said Trader Joe's would NEVER come to Nashville.
2. Liquor laws have absolutely nothing to do with where they expand. I thought that was a myth, but it is nice to have confirmation.
3. The roadblock is the creation of a distribution network for the area. This includes (but is not limited to) building / buying a warehouse that TJ's operates that is within at most a day's drive of the store. They wish to keep other aspects of their distribution process private, so that is the most I could get on that front. [I have had it suggested by someone who claims ties to the CEO that an inadequate supply of local vendors is part of the problem, but Kelly seemed to dismiss that.]
4. Location Request Forms filled out at Trader Joe's website go directly to the real estate department. She said it is the best department with which to communicate about such matters (FYI: they are the folks that I alerted about the creation of the petition last week).
5. Her response to having over 1000 signatures in 9 days: "Oh, wow!"
So what's the bottom line? I say we keep doing what we are doing with the petition and perhaps also each fill out the form at the website (above). If you've already done it, don't do it again. We don't need to antagonize them, just let them know we are waiting.
It also sounds like the real estate department could also benefit from information about specific properties in parts of town where we think they should expand.
It might even make sense to provide suggested locations for warehouses (so, for example, if they wanted to put in a warehouse in the Middle Tennessee area, it could service East and West Tennesse and also states north and south of us). I don't have specific requirements like square footage, but you can always call TJ's Corporate at 626-599-3700 if you think you have a good lead.
Will any of our efforts speed things along? I don't know. But I figure, it doesn't hurt to try!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Woo-Hoo! 1000 signatures in 9 days!!
Nashville rocks more than I knew!
We just hit one thousand "signatures" a few minutes ago after only nine days!
I'll be calling Trader Joe's Corporate in the morning to let them know and to try to get the skinny on what they are thinking.
But we're not done yet! We still have to beat the pants off of Austin, so we're not even halfway yet. KEEP IT UP!
We just hit one thousand "signatures" a few minutes ago after only nine days!
I'll be calling Trader Joe's Corporate in the morning to let them know and to try to get the skinny on what they are thinking.
But we're not done yet! We still have to beat the pants off of Austin, so we're not even halfway yet. KEEP IT UP!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Let the Battle Begin: What Part of Town?
Yeah, I want it to come to East Nashville. But I what I NEED is for it to be close enough that I can dare to buy frozen foods. Holy smoke, I miss those little frozen quiches--Prelude to a Quiche, I think it was called--and they better still carry them WHEN (no, ifs here, buddy!) TJ's comes to Nashville!
Based on the way I have seen TJ's enter a market, they are likely to set up shop in the wealthier suburbs in a strip mall type location, often near an already existing competitor like Whole Foods or Wild Oats (or in our case, I would say that category includes Harris Teeter).
To me, this would suggest that the following areas are the most likely contenders: Cool Springs, Green Hills or Franklin.
There are some other possibilites such as Hillsboro Village, Brentwood, Belle Meade, and even Hendersonville, but I think they are second tier candidates.
I do think East Nashville could be in the running for a subsequent store. This effort started in East Nashville, and I think that says something.
But I don't know everything. What do you think?
Based on the way I have seen TJ's enter a market, they are likely to set up shop in the wealthier suburbs in a strip mall type location, often near an already existing competitor like Whole Foods or Wild Oats (or in our case, I would say that category includes Harris Teeter).
To me, this would suggest that the following areas are the most likely contenders: Cool Springs, Green Hills or Franklin.
There are some other possibilites such as Hillsboro Village, Brentwood, Belle Meade, and even Hendersonville, but I think they are second tier candidates.
I do think East Nashville could be in the running for a subsequent store. This effort started in East Nashville, and I think that says something.
But I don't know everything. What do you think?
Let's Kick Some Austin Butt!
It's funny that I didn't realize that Austin was doing the same thing on the same website when I created our petition. We even used the same language in the title. Creepy!
What's more, their effort has been going on since 2006. They had about 1200 signatures on July 31st of this year. Then an article came out http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/BIZ/707310322/1001 that discussed Whole Foods versus Trader Joe's (with regard to the proposed merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats and the Whole Foods claim that Trader Joe's is the chain's most serious competition).
The article profiled the Austin petition because it just happens to be the home base for Whole Foods. Since the article came out, their petition has blossomed to over 2200 signatures.
Let's kick their butt!
What's more, their effort has been going on since 2006. They had about 1200 signatures on July 31st of this year. Then an article came out http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/BIZ/707310322/1001 that discussed Whole Foods versus Trader Joe's (with regard to the proposed merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats and the Whole Foods claim that Trader Joe's is the chain's most serious competition).
The article profiled the Austin petition because it just happens to be the home base for Whole Foods. Since the article came out, their petition has blossomed to over 2200 signatures.
Let's kick their butt!
Where should we publicize this petition?
Let's make distribution of the Tear Off Posters and Palm Cards a priority. Where do you think they should go?
Over the course of the next week, I plan to saturate the East Nashville and Inglewood area businesses and the Vanderbilt Campus with these things. I've got general ideas like Green Hills and Hillsboro Village, but would love specific suggestions.
Where else should they go? I have lots of "propaganda" already printed and ready for distribution.
I would love to make contact with folks like those from Nissan that have lots of transplants to the area in order to help you spread the word at your respective locations.
I'd also love to touch base with folks in some of the outlying areas like Franklin, Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, etc. (please take no offense if your area wasn't listed!) to see if you could do some simple distribution in your area.
I'm also hoping to get a press release out this week. I've already touched base with a couple of reporters, so we'll see.
We've gotten over 600 signatures in 6 days. That's pretty cool!
Over the course of the next week, I plan to saturate the East Nashville and Inglewood area businesses and the Vanderbilt Campus with these things. I've got general ideas like Green Hills and Hillsboro Village, but would love specific suggestions.
Where else should they go? I have lots of "propaganda" already printed and ready for distribution.
I would love to make contact with folks like those from Nissan that have lots of transplants to the area in order to help you spread the word at your respective locations.
I'd also love to touch base with folks in some of the outlying areas like Franklin, Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, etc. (please take no offense if your area wasn't listed!) to see if you could do some simple distribution in your area.
I'm also hoping to get a press release out this week. I've already touched base with a couple of reporters, so we'll see.
We've gotten over 600 signatures in 6 days. That's pretty cool!
Posts to Look Forward to: Ideas for Discussion
Where are some good places to distribute the posters and palm cards?
Where (generally or specifically) do you think TJ's should locate in the Nashville area and why?
What do you miss most about TJ's?
Share your story about the lengths you or your family/friends go to in order to satisfy your TJ cravings with long distance order fulfillment.
What are some of your ideas for media gimmicks to get noticed by the TJ Corporation?
What are some statistics and general attributes that you think TJ's would find compelling?
Your Idea Here (just share it)
Where (generally or specifically) do you think TJ's should locate in the Nashville area and why?
What do you miss most about TJ's?
Share your story about the lengths you or your family/friends go to in order to satisfy your TJ cravings with long distance order fulfillment.
What are some of your ideas for media gimmicks to get noticed by the TJ Corporation?
What are some statistics and general attributes that you think TJ's would find compelling?
Your Idea Here (just share it)
What YOU Can Do to Make IT Happen!
1. Sign the petition
2. Get family and friends to sign the petition
3. Forward the petition url to listservs you are on and other folks you know (think work, church, book group, neighborhood group, etc).
4. Print out and distribute the Tear Off Poster and Palm Cards (think work, coffee shop, restaurants, other grocery stores, bookstores, etc):
5. If you have a blog or website, help get the word out by adding a link to the petition or this blog.
6. Come back here once a week so that we can stay organized to take action. I promise to put up a new post every Friday (if not more often).
2. Get family and friends to sign the petition
3. Forward the petition url to listservs you are on and other folks you know (think work, church, book group, neighborhood group, etc).
4. Print out and distribute the Tear Off Poster and Palm Cards (think work, coffee shop, restaurants, other grocery stores, bookstores, etc):
5. If you have a blog or website, help get the word out by adding a link to the petition or this blog.
6. Come back here once a week so that we can stay organized to take action. I promise to put up a new post every Friday (if not more often).
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Welcome to my blog -- it's under construction
Greetings, fans of Trader Joe's. We unleashed a petition to get Trader Joe's to come to Nashville yesterday and we just hit 300 signatures already.
You can find that petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/tjsnash/petition.html
I hope we can use this site as an opportunity to spread the word, answer questions and share strategy ideas. I imagine we'll find other uses as we go along. I'm new to this whole blogging thing, so I welcome your advice and assistance and ask for your patience.
Thanks to the many folks who have offered their assistance to this effort and to everyone who signed the petition. Hopefully, we can increase the availability of affordable, quality groceries in Nashville in the near future.
If you don't know much about Trader Joe's, here are some websites and articles that may explain what all the fuss is about:
http://www.traderjoes.com/
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/
http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/
http://www.slate.com/id/2138178/
http://cardhouse.com/a/joes.htm
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/11/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes-battle-of-the-brands/
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/channel-marketing/219840-1.html
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=6100
Well, that's enough for now...
Carol
You can find that petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/tjsnash/petition.html
I hope we can use this site as an opportunity to spread the word, answer questions and share strategy ideas. I imagine we'll find other uses as we go along. I'm new to this whole blogging thing, so I welcome your advice and assistance and ask for your patience.
Thanks to the many folks who have offered their assistance to this effort and to everyone who signed the petition. Hopefully, we can increase the availability of affordable, quality groceries in Nashville in the near future.
If you don't know much about Trader Joe's, here are some websites and articles that may explain what all the fuss is about:
http://www.traderjoes.com/
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/
http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/
http://www.slate.com/id/2138178/
http://cardhouse.com/a/joes.htm
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/11/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes-battle-of-the-brands/
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/channel-marketing/219840-1.html
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=6100
Well, that's enough for now...
Carol
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