Today's Economy

How will the economic situation that now exists affect this year's Thanksgiving and Christmas sales in our stores?

In the past few years, I've noticed a growing trend by restaurants in the neighborhood to offer "prepared" meals and I believe this has caught on. I found them to be pricey for what they offered. Time has become so important over the years that going to Claim Jumper to pick up your partially cooked Thanksgiving meal beats spending the time shopping at the grocery store and all day Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning.

Many households still prefer to get up at 4am on Thanksgiving morning, throw the bird in the oven, sit and watch the parades and games as the house fills with the smells of the holiday meal.

I've been at my location for over four years and find a growing trend towards waiting until the last possible moment to do the holiday shopping. Is it like that everywhere now?

Each holiday season is unique and new lessons are learned. Something always catches you offguard. Just a few years ago I had never heard of Craisans or people cooking their turkey in a deep-fryer. What will be this years' sleeper.

Sharing Information

I've always wanted to create a place for people to come and share helpful information and news regarding what goes on between Midnight and 9am in Ralphs Grocery stores.

CAO issues, warehouse issues, personnel issues, etc. A place where we can put our minds together and help each other out. Away from the crowded computer rooms that exist in our locations this time of year.

I have found that there is little time to contact buyers, warehouses, other stores during my "working" hours, because I always seem to be pressed to finish my workload of conditioning the store, price changes, finishing the load, etc.

That is the reasoning behind creating this blog and hopefully it will prove to be a benefit to others in the same situation as I.