The frozen section sits up in front of the liquor department, in the center of the main aisles. This view spotlights one of my favorite features of Mercer -- the aisle markers, which feature a translucent blue panel above the aisle marker plaque section. Sadly, the effect really doesn't come through in pictures. Interestingly, with the 2x3 grid of category plaques below an accent panel that's topped by a large number in a square, these things really look a lot like the standard Bountiful+ aisle marker design, even though they predate Bountiful by a few years. Maybe it's just a coincidence (after all, some other decor packages, like Script, use somewhat similar designs as well), or maybe not -- after all, this decor package was designed by the same company as Bountiful (DFab, which has designed practically every Kroger decor package since at least the Millennium days, with the notable exception of Neighborhood, as far as I can tell), and I suspect it's a small enough company that many of the same people would have worked on both projects. In some ways, it really does feel like some of the concepts that went into Merger got recycled into the much-more-successful Bountiful package.
I wonder why the 'ice' sign is so much different from all the others. Anyway, that aside, the aisle marker does look pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI found this independent grocer just outside the Houston area in the town of Splendora, TX. The aisle markers there most certainly look like they were inspired by Kroger designs, but I don't think they are using recycled Kroger aisle markers. As for the rest of the decor at this supermarket, well, wow! It has to be seen to be believed! I think it's fair to say that while some people might like it, some other people might be too scared to shop at this supermarket because of the decor, lol. Link: https://goo.gl/maps/xte1AQSjKSQ5d1kn9
Also, here is some news about Randall's. Someone at Retail Watchers noted that their Randall's in Austin is advertising that the Remarkable Card (Randall's version of the Safeway card) is no longer necessary to get sale prices. Indeed, the latest Randall's ad for Austin and Houston no longer lists card prices.
DeleteWhat is really strange though is that the Tom Thumb ad still does mention card prices! I tried loading a Safeway Seattle ad and it has card prices still as well. I'm not sure what's going on, but maybe Albertsons/Safeway is using Randall's as a test market towards elimination of the Safeway cards? Whatever the case is, I think this is a positive development. Not having to use the card should make Randall's more competitive against all their competitors in Houston who do not require a card (Kroger is the only other grocer who still uses a card). On the flip side, the Safeway/Remarkable card can still be used for digital coupons which makes it easier than grocers who have digital coupons, but have no card at all. Randall's may have the best of both worlds then.
That ice plaque is one of the standard Bountiful+ ones, while the rest are from Mercer -- that's another thing that makes these seem strangely similar to the Bountiful+ model.
DeleteHa, that store's certainly interesting! Not design choices I would make, but still kind of fun.
Hmm, that's a big surprise -- it's not that long ago that Safeway switched our local Albertsons to require the card for sales, plus Albertsons/Safeway as a whole seems to be really leaning into the For U program that always requires a card. It will be interesting to see how that goes in the long run!
Yeah, I did notice when I went to the Safeway Seattle ad that the ad was for both Albertsons and Safeway and that it did require the card. Actually, Albertsons has been doing things differently here in Texas. If you look at the Albertsons and Tom Thumb ads in Dallas (use zip code 75218 on albertsons.com), they are separate ads but otherwise have similar sale items and prices. The difference is that Albertsons does not require the card and Tom Thumb does! So obviously for the time being, Albertsons and Tom Thumb (Safeway) in Dallas are structured a bit differently. Here in Houston, we seem to be moving towards the Albertsons way of doing things without the card! Lucky us, eh?
DeleteThe For U program will probably still require the card. Well, that said, I've heard that Randall's/Tom Thumb stores at least no longer issue actual cards. If you register for a For U account/Remarkable Card/Safeway Card, they just set it up using one's phone number rather than issuing an actual card. I'm not sure if that's how things are done at Safeway stores in the NW.
It should also be noted that while Safeway cards can be used at Randall's/Tom Thumb stores for sale price discounts, it's not possible to use Randall's/Tom Thumb Remarkable cards at actual Safeway stores. I'm not sure why that's the case, but it is. It's possible that with things going cardless now, maybe a Remarkable account will work at Safeway. I don't know!
This photo title is fantastic and I want to use it here on out on at least 2/3rds of my own photos.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about neighborhood not having been designed by DFab!
Ha, thanks!
DeleteThat may be part of the wild speculation too, but I think that package was designed by CDS instead of DFab.
You're welcome!
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