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Becoming Trader Joe
Book

Becoming Trader Joe

How I Did Business My Way and Still Beat the Big Guys

HarperCollins Leadership, 2021 more...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Engaging
  • Insider's Take
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Imagine a grocery store where every full-time employee makes a salary at least equal to the area’s median family income – a chain with a stock of unique, private-label goods providing excellent value. Imagine that it focuses on its target demographic to build cult-like loyalty. This is Trader Joe’s. Joe Coulombe tells how he built Trader Joe’s into a success, offering anecdotes in a casual, idiosyncratic style. His account is neither linear nor ordinary – just like his stores.

 

Take-Aways

  • Joe Coulombe built Trader Joe’s from a struggling chain of convenience stores.
  • Paying employees well was a foundational element of Trader Joe’s success.
  • Coulombe identified and pursued Trader Joe’s target market – “the overeducated and underpaid.”

About the Authors

Joseph Hardin Coulombe, a Stanford-educated economics major and MBA recipient, founded Trader Joe’s, served as a consultant to and leader of companies in distress, and held seats on numerous boards. He died in February 2020. Patty Civalleri has written several travel books on Italy’s art and culture.