Company Blog
Not Your Fans
by Adam Zack — August 10, 2022
I look at our customers as ardent fans.
Imagine you are in your store – say your name is Bob and your store is Bob’s Fine Foods. No, wait, that’s too common of a name. Say your name is Elmer and you own Elmer’s Fine Foods. You, Elmer J. Littlebottom III come into your store one day and half of your customers (and even a few of your employees) are wearing Leonard’s Finest Foods t-shirts. What are they even doing in your store, wearing the shirt of your biggest competition? Sure, Leonard is a fine guy, but what the?? Would you find it strange, or would you just be happy your store is full and busy? I look at our grocery customers as our fans. They cheer when we do well, they boo when we fumble, and they treat our store like their home stadium. Of course, most customers who are in Elmer’s (or your store – or any store) aren’t wearing the jersey of the competitor. Most of the time you can’t tell if they are ardent fans or just there because someone gave them free tickets (and vouchers for two free beers and nachos). Just like our most supportive family members, our customers are our biggest fans. They come back season after season rooting for us to do well, happy for the times when we win the World Series and make the playoffs consistently. They appreciate our efforts and reward us by returning year after year. It’s our job to give them a quality team to root for. I was watching the Los Angeles Dodgers (I know, I can already hear half the country – BOOOO!!!) play the San Diego Padres this weekend. The games were sold out, and Dodger Stadium was awash with Dodger blue. I saw one little kid with a Padres hat and jersey on. One! When the Dodgers come to San Diego, the stadium always sells out and is almost half full of Dodger fans. Why? Because over the decades they have cultivated that fan base with a winning (mostly) culture. So, here’s to you, the outstanding grocers who through great ownership and leadership deliver a sold-out store of your own fans year after year.
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