by Charlotte Beal
A colleague recently alerted me to Real Simple’s online series, “Time-Saving Tips for Busy Parents,” specifically the Supermarket Strategies story.
It’s a mix of fairly “duh” tips like digging back in the produce and dairy sections for the freshest items and stooping to notice that the cheaper items are shelved on the bottom of every aisle. One minor revelation: The top shelf (home to many specialty foods) is usually curated by that particular store manager (not the parent corporation), so that’s where consumers can have some say if they speak up with suggestions.
But I found that most of Real Simple’s tips would be rendered moot if shoppers simply took the time to make a solid grocery list. A well-organized list means less straying, fewer impulse buys, a cheaper tally and a quicker trip. Here’s what I do: write down everything I run out of throughout the week, as well as specific ingredients needed for recipes. Then I painstakingly write a whole new list, reordering the items according to store layout. I also only go to the same three stores so I know their real estate like the back of my hand.
Yes, this takes time, and yes I could be less analog girl about it and actually get one of those digital shopping assistants, but the time is well worth it and there’s something satisfying about just me, my pencil, my pad and a cup of tea. If all consumers did this, shoppers would be more satisfied and stores would enjoy a special kind of brand loyalty. What you lose out in impulse purchases you gain in strong friends who don’t want to risk the time or sanity in straying.
