Grocery Store Employees: Average Joes or Marketing Pros

As I sat there in the Produce back-room at Geisslers Supermarket I couldn't help but think to myself, am I just stocking fruit or am I advertising it for all customers to see? It was at that time I realized that in fact I am doing both. After wondering around the store for several minutes (on the clock mind you) I came to the conclusion that all employees of the grocery business are marketers of some sort. They are innovators, advertisers, personal sellers and most of them don't even know it.

These employees are on the forefront of the business. Each containing vast amounts of knowledge of their respected department. An employee working produce can tell you the difference between and English Cuke and a Regular Cuke. Someone in Bakery can tell you whether using large white eggs are better (or worse) than using large brown eggs to bake a cake. Meat department employees will make that backyard BBQ even more enjoyable. They do this by offering advice on certain cuts of meat and cooking techniques. Even the cashiers at the check-out line will tell you those $2.99 paper towels you are about to buy are no different than the $0.99 ones on sale.

Knowledge, however, isn't the only tools these people poses. Creativity is also in their "bag of tricks." It is the employees who erect those massive displays (some may consider to be works of art) in the middle of the store. These displays that grab your attention, make you gasp in awe, and inform you that these displayed canned goods are in fact on sale! Creativity can be seen especially in the produce section. The arrangement of fruits and vegetables allows for colors to grasp your attention and pull you in for a closer look.

All in all these folks are the quintessential grinding gears that "turnover" a profit for the company. They not only think like consumers but at the same time act in the best interest of them. Like all marketing people know, a happy customer means a profitable business.