Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - DiscoveryBayPress_07.04.08 - Index

12A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY JULY 4, 2008
Discount from page 5A
quenting the aisles of the Dollar Tree
in Brentwood for ages. While Lozano
says the Dollar Tree’s selection of paper
products – including cards, stationary
and party accessories – bring her in,
it’s the bang-for-your-buck appeal that
brings her back.
“I’ve been shopping here for years,”
said Lozano, her arms full of party products.
“But now I’m doing it on more of
a regular schedule. I try to get here once
a week and make one big trip.”
George Medeiros, owner and operator
of the Grocery Outlet, says the
infl ux of regular customers to his store
has also grown. Since he and his wife
Lori opened their Antioch location
nearly 13 years ago, their store has enjoyed
a continuous, steady increase in
sales. Add to that equation the current
economic condition said Medeiros, and
you’ve got a business that has found its
niche.
“Everybody wants to save; there’s
no mystery to that,” said Medeiros, who
estimates he sees an average of 700 customers
come through his store each day.
“Business is good and in the past year
or so I’m seeing a lot of new faces; a lot
new regular customers.”
So what’s the secret? How are these
retailers able to provide a quality product
at such discounted prices?
No secret, said Mindy Boone, manager
of the Antioch Grocery Outlet. Just
the know-how to buy overfl ow items,
discontinued products and bulk foods
that other stores don’t have the room to
stock. Buying in bulk allows stores like
the Grocery Outlet to pass the savings
onto their customers.
“You can get a lot of the same
things here that you can get in other
stores, but at much lower prices, and
they’re just as fresh,” said Boone. “We
have a lot of great deals here and people
know that.”
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products from companies such as Colman,
are certainly a strong draw, agrees
Medeiros. But for long-time patrons
like Lee Ryan, it’s the overall package
that brings him in week after week.
“This is the place to be,” said Ryan.
“There is a ton of selection, the prices
are great, and so is the customer service.
We’ve always shopped here, but now
we’re just doing it more regularly.”
Customer consistency and confi -
dence are the mainstays of discount
stores such as the Grocery Outlet, said
Brittney
Lozano, in
pink, and
Teresa Flores
peruse the
aisles of the
Dollar Tree in
Brentwood.
Photo by Ruth Roberts
Medeiros. Even restaurants that have
long enjoyed the advantages of shopping
in bulk are revving up their efforts
even more these days.
“Institutions come in here all the
time because we offer the freshest, largest
selections on items,” said Medeiros.
“That’s the key: give the customer what
he wants. It’s been working well for us,
so we’re just going to keep doing what
we’re doing.”
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