How Can You Think Differently?

Joe Coulombe was successful. At least, he was by most standards.

He started his career working for the Rexall chain of drugstores. In 1958, they asked Joe to test the launch of Pronto Markets, a store brand created to compete against 7-Eleven. After Joe ran six Pronto Markets in the Los Angeles area, however, Rexall asked him to close down.

Joe decided to buy them out, instead.

Always one for innovation and improvement, Joe wondered if he could create something that would better serve the growing population of recent college graduates who wanted convenience but also craved something better than two-day-old hot dogs and Mountain Dew. So, he stocked his market in Pasadena with wine and liquor, as well as high-quality prepared foods and fresh ingredients. He hired hard-working employees and emphasizedtheir training. He paid them well, too.

Working long, hard hours, Joe regularly analyzed his business. As the market grew, he decided to add more locations – especially around universities and young professional hubs. He added healthier and more organic foods to the markets’ shelves, and diversified his offerings.

Lo and behold, in a few short years, the concept took off. Most people know the market by the name it has today: Trader Joe’s.

Joe Coulombe recognized a problem and envisioned a different way of serving that niche. How do you think differently?

I’m on a mission to bring joy back into education and the workplace by inspiring people to read MORE, read BETTER and LOVE reading.

 I hope this article served you. Feel free to share it.

 All the best, and God bless!

 Danny ;-)