Comments on: How Grocery Stores Can Market to Moms More Effectively

By: Marcela

Marcela — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:09:15 +0000

I think I’m a little spoiled living in California! We have a couple different stores that cater to mom’s in the ways you have suggested. When we go to Ralph’s my 8 year old heads straight for the bakery where they give kids a free cookie on every visit (sometimes 2 cookies, one for son, one for mom)! Whole foods although a bit pricey has very helpful people in the produce section ready to give you samples of what you are looking at, they also offer mini dining areas to buy tasty food to eat. I have even met up with friends there for lunch then shopping. Trader Joes is another good one, they always have coffee available for mom, juice for the kids and small samples.

But a nursing station! That is awesome! I usually will nurse at one of the seating areas for the coffee places in store or dining areas!

By: Darcie

Darcie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:02:35 +0000

Such great thoughts. I hope someone in the decision making department of the grocery store is reading. I especially love the nursing room one. I’m done with that stage of my life but I do remember sneaking out to the car to nurse. And from one Arizona mom to another, I don’t have to tell you how miserable, sweaty, and sticky *that* can get in the summer months. Oh, and the coupons for fresh food?! Brilliant. I’m not a Pop-Tart kinda mom myself. Every once in awhile I get those $5 off a $15 dollar produce purchase from Fry’s and I do backflips because I’m so thrilled!

Excellent ideas!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:08:15 +0000

I used to get a free cookie from Safeway when I was a kid, just for wandering over to the bakery and looking cute (they’d give any kid a cookie, cute or not). Not sure if any of the stores still do this.

Of course, as an adult, I’m not sure I’d really want my kids getting extra sugar in the day, heh. A free apple would be cool. ;)

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:26:28 +0000

I’d like to see local produce offered in the big chain stores. Regular lighting not dimmed lighting. Lower prices. I see end up going to at least three stores per week to get what I want at the price I want to spend. (and I’d like to see Infused Owater sold anywhere locally to me!!)

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:12:31 +0000

You really covered it all the only thing that I would add is wider aslies (how do you spell that??). We only have two grocery stores in my small town, City Market (Kroger) and Safeway. Safeway has a great friendly staff but the store is small and a lot of the time they do not have what I need so I normally go to City Market – which they recently remodled and now it is like going to a grocery store in a big city with a sushi bar and all.

Oh – Steph I am hosting a Body Balance Giveway on my blog can you bring it up on your Tuesday Webtours?

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:15:38 +0000

And I would add designated parking for expecting/toddlers-in-toe moms. I’d have to say that Basha’s does a pretty good job on some of your points. I never used their “play center” because my kids were old enough to be in preschool when they came around, but my sister loved it. Great post!

By: Summer

Summer — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:51:09 +0000

Ah yes. Customer service. Doesn’t seem to exist where I’m at. The exception is at a store called Wegmans. I LOVE Wegmans. It feels like an upsacale shopping exeperience but it isn’t priced like one. They have a cool train set hanging from the ceiling that the boys love to see when we go in. They have a separate cafe and dining area overlooking the store . They have tons of obscure products that you can’t get anywhere else and the customer service is good.

That being said it’s a bit of a drive so I can’t go there that often. The store I hit most is CVS. Customer service sucks but the Extra Buck program saves me so much money it’s absolutely worth it.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:33:21 +0000

My favorite chain around here (in NC) is Harris Teeter. They offer great customer service and they always carry groceries out to the car for moms and elderly customers! Most locations also have a drive through where you can drive around and the bagger will load the car with the groceries. They are very clean and have free cheese and fruit samples, carry organic brands and produce, and give away cookies and balloons to kids. Too bad they are more expensive than the other chains! Although I will probably shop there more often when I have a baby and loading groceries will be made that much harder.

By: kristen c

kristen c — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:06:35 +0000

On the west coast, we have a chain called Fred Meyers (affectionately known as Freddies). Their prices don’t beat, say WalMart or WinCo, but listen to these amenities:
-PlayLand (not always open at the best times, but what a treat to drop your kids off for 45 minutes of quiet price comparisons).
-Starbucks and a small deli with eating area.
-Free cookie at the bakery every time for your kids
-Large organic/bulk foods section, complete with skin care line, natural sodas, and frozen items.
-A great savings card that pays you back with free groceries at the end of each spending session.
-A high quality generic brand (I think it is the Kroger brand) that usually has good prices.
Ahhh, and we have one walk-able distance around the block. I’m a lucky mama.

By: ayla

ayla — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:35:57 +0000

My grocery store, which is owned and operated by a local family, has a small restaurant with a seating area. You can buy paninis, wraps, subs, pizza, or roasted chicken (think boston market) meals. I nurse in the seating area, in the corner, and I’ve never been spoken to. I like your snack pack idea but I’m not sure it’s cost effective, nor would every mother appreciate a bin with goldfish packs, especially if she didn’t want her kids having goldfish for some reason. A sticker bin would be better. A greeter would probably be too expensive.