COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho– Joe Hamilton, the owner of Pilgrims Market in Coeur d’Alene, said Trader Joe’s moving across the street could be good for business.
“They’re moving across the street because they want to pick up on our traffic, and the reality for us is that we will pick up on their traffic,” said Hamilton.
Linda Coppess, the President of Coeur D’Alene Regional Chamber, seemed to agree. In a statement sent to NonStop Local, she called the big box grocer moving in “significant” and, in part, said, “their presence will not only enhance our shopping experience by providing an additional choice for residents but also attract visitors.”
Business Insider reports that across the United States, there are more than 535 Trader Joe’s employing 17,000 People, and they do nearly $17 billion in sales each year. Business Insider also reports Trader Joe’s has high customer turnover, meaning people who shop there are likely to return.
Hamilton said that’s also what has allowed his store to thrive: loyal customers. He added those customers, worried about the locally owned favorite, is what will make them a continued success, “there is a lot of support for us, and people are concerned, and they want to make sure that we survive… and I think we will.”
In terms of their approach so their business doesn’t spoil, Hamilton says they’ll continue doing what they do best, “Our strategy all along has been to continue to innovate and do really cool things that nobody else does. There’s not a lot of changes to our strategy, so we’re going to keep pushing forward.”
