Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)

The quirky little grocery chain with California roots and German ownership has a lot to teach all of us about choice architecture, efficiency, frugality, collaboration, and team spirit. SOURCES: Kirk DesErmia, facilities manager in Seward, Alaska. Mark Gardiner, journalist and author. Sheena Iyengar, professor of business at Columbia Business School. Michael Roberto, professor of management at Bryant University. RESOURCES: “Trader Joe’s,” David Ager and Michael Roberto (Harvard Business School Case, 2014). “What Brands Are Actually Behind Trader Joe’s Snacks?,” Vince Dixon (Eater, 2017). Build a Brand Like Trader Joe’s by Mark Gardiner (2012). “When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?,” Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000). Unlocking Creativity, by Michael Roberto (2019). EXTRAS: “How Can This Possibly Be True?,” by Freakonomics Radio (2016). “How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying,” by Freakonomics Radio (2016). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.