SATURDAY CONSO special this week. Direction the United States, from New York to Los Angeles. As always: retail but… not only.
SATURDAY
At Target in New Jersey. Liquid Death? Some water. Just water! (but who nevertheless crossed the Atlantic, “from the Alps”).
Not just any water. She… kills the thirst. “Murder your thirst”. In short, another over-the-counter weapon. Pfff, those Americans…
Target encore. Not so silly to think of Madame Dauvers with a bucket in hand, is it? Good, OK, a little pierced my bucket.
WholeFoods à Wall Street. On one side of the cabinet, avocados to be consumed within 1 to 2 days. On the other, the less ripe fruits, perfect in 3 to 4 days. In theory a good idea. In practice, it is (as too often) less obvious. Lawyers between the 2 zones, is it for the day after tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? 😉
Always the same feeling at Whole Foods. It’s the sign that makes…poor. 8 dollars a vial of kale, spinach, cucumber or broccoli… And to think that with that I’m paying close to 10 liters of Coca-Cola. In short, another reading of obesity here in the US.
As often, I was bad language… If I take 4, it will only cost me 24 dollars. It changes everything. Or not.
WholeFoods. When a product (only one among several tens of thousands) sums up the positioning of the brand and its customers!
Local, Avignon bread, really? “The best from around here”. Very very “around” all the same.
Whole Foods. Among the “images” of American retail, here is one that always surprises the Frenchie on a walk in the States. Here, all welcome. Even the dogs.
Otherwise, money is everywhere. But, you already knew that, right?
ShowFields in Brooklyn. Nothing really essential (review here). But if I didn’t show you these dog boots, you wouldn’t know they existed. And that would be a shame.
Centre commercial American Dream. Ben what, I was … a little hungry.
SUNDAY
NRF show in New York. The marriage of tech and retail. For my selection of 6 technologies, it’s here! For the conditions of success of a techno, it’s here >>
Duane Reade, a stone’s throw from the NRF show. We are obviously wary of customers. The shampoos? Under key. Toothbrushes? Same. Chocolate bars? The same. The pistachios? Itou. The other solution (to avoid theft) is still to close the store. Has anyone thought of that?
Morton Williams, still in Manhattan (review my smart cart test here). The square meter is visibly rare and expensive. You have it ?
At CVS, the leading drugstore brand. Too much promo kills promo (or at least visibility), right?
« For backside play ». How elegantly these things are said. Do you wash too? Yes, I know, I’m sinking.
MONDAY
Bass Pro Shop (the local hunting-fishing-outdoor Decathlon), in Atlanta. America, America, etc.
The American version fly swatter? A grain of salt rifle to exterminate insects. Weapons are everywhere. America, America, etc.
Plastic bullets? “Missile”. I wouldn’t want to see the real ones… America, America, etc.
A few steps further: the assembly guide for an AK-47 rifle. Just to be sure? Isn’t that what we call a “Kalashnikov”? America, America, it’s freaking out.
Need to relax after Bass Pro Shops. The first boutique to come: StudzLove, an openly lesbian textile brand. And a bit provocative… “Lesbians do it better”. Pffft.
Bling bling. As indicated by his name.
MARDI
Walmart, still in Atlanta. Gender theory down to the toilet. Dude Wipes. For us men (we’ll have to explain why, I’m interested…)
Walmart encore. Because the mass sells…. Now (for those who didn’t know), you will know how!
At Aldi. Could this be what we call… junk food?
WEDNESDAY
Erewhon à Beverly Hills. Here, on the hills of LA, we have been eating organic, vegan, gluten-free, etc. for a long time. From now on, in addition, we wipe our buttocks with paper that has not condemned trees. “Tree-free”.
Erewhon, always. Of course, these customers are not except for one contradiction. Tangerines? Sold without their protection (natural, the skin) but in a tray. Well, as long as they are organic, we can still believe we are saving the world, huh…
THURSDAY
Trader Joe’s in Los Angeles. The brand (owned by Aldi), which embodies “American-style fun shopping”, dares almost everything. Even his house advice for… “concluding”: roses and sweets. #Touch down.
At Vallarta, a “community retail” brand, dedicated to LA Latinos. Couple races? Monsieur pushes the trolley and follows the Real Madrid / Villarreal match (yes), Madame chooses the products. This is called the distribution of tasks.
Rayon sodas. And I thought (stupidly) that the “Champagne” appellation was well protected…
Vallarta encore. Consumption is a sin. I am going to repent in the moment. Holy Mary, deliver me from temptation!
Dogs, again. Otherwise, on the West Coast too, it is a banal image. Whoaf Whoaf.
FRIDAY
At Trader Joe’s. The sign puts on a show, down to the shirts of its employees. Suffice to say that Sean welcomed me… like a colleague!
Trader Joe’s, encore. OP flowers. Tulips come from Holland. Globalization on the move.
On the way back. On the way to the airport, a crèche: the Future Leaders Academy. From 15 months. America is really great. See you next week !
NB: out of sight but never out of mind. Or how the big consumer is a great vector of declarations… Get ready guys, Valentine’s Day soon 😉
As always, the production of this SATURDAY CONSO is more than very largely “homemade” and prepared “with love” (and a little sex, it’s true)
And if you enjoy this Saturday meeting, find the very best in the 19e edition of my slices of commercial life. To offer or to offer oneself. Here >>
