Czaro Strategic Communications

In our family, I do most of the grocery shopping. Sometimes I take the kids, but most of the time, I like to go alone. For me, every shopping experience is an event.

I’m picky when it comes to shopping. There are some grocery stores that I will only go to if I’m passing by and absolutely have to get a few items. Even then, I’m reluctant to enter because time after time these stores have hit the trifecta: unstocked shelves, non-competitive prices and lousy customer service.

That never seems to be the case at my grocery store of choice. It’s a locally owned chain of six stores, and they pride themselves on superior customer service, value and variety. My store of choice isn’t the closest market to my house – there are actually four stores closer, and I even drive past one to get there.

You’ll see why I love my local store, when you read about my recent grocery-shopping experience.

I parked in a spot next to the shopping cart return bin. The bin was empty. When do you ever see that? I scanned the parking lot and saw two youths bringing in carts.

I entered the store and was immediately welcomed by an attendant, who pulled the cart out for me. I used the disinfecting wipes (this was pre-Swine Flu scare) to clean the cart’s handle and proceeded inside.

My first stop was the deli where there were three people helping with meat and cheese orders, and another assisting with hot to-go orders. The meats and cheeses were pre-cut and sitting in the refrigerated display case, so there was no wait time for my choices to be sliced. They just weighed, bagged, tagged and handed me my ham and Swiss cheese.

Produce is next. There were three workers stocking, rotating and discarding fruits and vegetables. I had trouble locating the bean sprouts, so I asked for help. Instead of pointing across the aisles, the worker walked with me to the shelf where the sprouts were displayed. Before he left he asked “Anything else sir?” Actually, several employees I encountered asked that same question.

I moved on to the meat department. It’s my favorite part of shopping because there are three people helping customers and the display of seafood, chicken, pork and beef is 10 yards long. I can shop for bargains and pick out the cuts of meat I want to take home – all wrapped in white butcher paper.

In the coffee aisle, I looked for the individual pods for my Keurig coffee machine, which they never carry. As I was looking in vain, an assistant manager asked if I needed help. I told him what I was looking for. He said that although they don’t stock it, he’d be happy to order it for me and it would be waiting for me next time I come back.

At this point I’m only a third of the way through the store and I’ve already experienced more customer service than in the past five years of shopping at other national chains.

Do you see why I love shopping at this store? Let this sink in for a few days. Go shopping and compare your experience to mine. My next post will explain why everyone is so helpful at my grocery store.