In this day and age of Walmart’s, Target’s, Safeway’s, Kroger’s, etc., how is an independent to compete, let alone survive?
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The answer of course, is to be or do something remarkable. Create WOW and the customers will come.
I just recently read a book, Retail Superstars: Inside the 25 Best Independent Stores In America, by George Whalin. One of those retail superstars is Jungle Jim’s International Market, a humungous supermarket in Fairfield, Ohio.
Jungle Jim’s International is a 285,000 square foot (6.5 acre or 26,000 square meter) Supermarket that has it all (compared to the typical American supermarket from 35,000 – 45,000 sq. ft. or a Walmart or Target Supercenter which can be up to 200,000 sq. ft.). The store is based on themes that entertain the customers. It has one of the largest wine collections in the U.S., live seafood tanks, a cooking school and more. They have foods from around the world, they have Amish, Asian, European and other International foods. In fact if you can’t find it here chances are you can’t find it anywhere.
Jungle Jim's
How about foot traffic? Jungle Jim’s has 50,000 shoppers per week passing through and annual sales of $100 million! Not bad for an independent located in a city with a population of 42,097 based on the 2000 census (Cincinnati is a good 30 minute drive away).
Independents can thrive and do thrive in todays environment. The key is creativity and being remarkable and they will come.
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