Why I love Trader Joe’s or Mo’ Choices, Mo’ Problems

Trader Joe's in Old Town Alexandria
OId Town Trader Joe’s: Where I am unfortunately on a first name basis with the man who does wine tastings

I’m very, very late to this not-so-scandelous expose on Trader Joe’s, but thank you Forbes (and Huffington Post for your round up with photos) for pointing out that more is not always better. I’m Trader Joe’s crazy, so not much of what the article reveals surprises me. But I love how the writer hit on the main reason I shop there: lack of choice. I love how shopping at Trader Joe’s requires making almost zero decisions!

The Marketability of Brooklyn Beer

Flight of the Conchord stars

Yes, I know they actually lived in Manhattan on the show

Six Point brewery is everywhere in the DC area these days — dinner parties, beer store tastings, on tap at my favorite bars. It’s great. It comes in cans. It’s from Brooklyn.
The key point, I believe, here is the Brooklyn. A beer from Brooklyn is an easy sell. The main demographic for craft beer (white, male, 25-44, with a household income of more than 75K/year) is the same one that wishes they had moved to New York after college and started that band, written that book, launched that career as a stock trader/journalist/comedian/filmmaker or indie lay-about.  Selling Brooklyn is selling what could have been to the late 20s/ early to mid 30s crowd that abound in DC.

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