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Where to Conduct Market Research in the USA Now (2023)
I've Missed You Australia
I’ve Missed You Australia
It was so nice to be back in Australia during July! Being previously based in Sydney, many of Green Purse’s clients are in Australia and it's a place I absolutely love! It’s been years since I was last in Australia due to the pandemic days, so this recent visit felt even more special. This trip was for my client, Land to Market, to support their expansion into the Australian market.
Below are some photos showing a visual recap of my recent trip. Some highlights include farm visits — meeting Aussie graziers and farmers that are working to improve environmental health through regenerative agriculture. We also met with companies looking to source materials (like meat, leather, wool, etc) and Land to Market verified regenerative products from the Land to Market member base. In addition to work, I managed to make time for spotting some pretty views and lots of delicious food & drink.
The Australian market continues to be a major focus for myself and Green Purse PR. We work with many of Australia’s leaders in agriculture, red meat, wine and honey. Australia has a lot to offer the world in terms of natural and organic products. I'm keen to help Australian companies be successful in the American market by helping them better understand the market and their consumers. Learn more about our experience with other leading Australian companies (like Meat & Livestock Australia) and research capabilities here and contact me if you're keen to learn more.
- Lisa Mabe, CEO of Green Purse PR
Curious to know what American women think about products from Australia?
Watch this video Green Purse produced, featuring our shop-along research.
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Grocery Shopping During Pandemic Times
Grocery Shopping During Pandemic Times in America
Whole Foods Market Does Social Distancing
Here are some photos I recently took, showing what grocery shopping looks like during these pandemic times here in the USA. Whole Foods Market was quick to adjust its in-store messaging, and add wayfinding signage to ensure the safest flow of foot traffic. Have a glance at the photos below.
Speaking of Whole Foods Market, if your products are sold there, you need to be working with us as we keep a constant pulse on how Whole Foods Market shoppers think, behave and buy. Schedule a one-hour 'Winning with Whole Foods Market Shoppers' consult session with Green Purse PR to learn more about Whole Foods Market shoppers and best practices for how your brand can successfully connect with them. Learn more about the retail intel on Whole Foods Market here, and contact us to schedule your session.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder & CEO, Green Purse PR
Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's New Flagship Mid-Atlantic Store | McLean, Virginia
Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's New Flagship store in the Mid-Atlantic | Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia
Whole Foods Market recently opened its new Mid-Atlantic flagship store in Tysons Corner located at McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. Naturally, I needed to see the retailer’s ‘fanciest store yet’ as reported by The Washingtonian, and lucky for me, it’s super close by.
The new store is located at 1635 Boro Place, McLean, Virginia in The Boro, a new residential + commercial development by The Meridian Group and Kettler Inc. is designed for work, play and mingle and includes luxury residences, destination retail, and distinguished office spaces. With 70,000 square-foot, multi-level flagship store is a community gathering destination featuring a trendy food hall, cocktail bar, game area, outdoor patio and a self-service wine bar.
Wow; what a gorgeous store! Given that so much of my shopper research and public relations work focuses on Whole Foods Market, I’m very familiar with the different types of store formats across North America. The latest stores opened by Whole Foods Market have (and there have been several in the past few months,) are so much more than just a nice grocery store; they really are meant to be community gathering spaces. It’s the kind of place you could spend several hours at for not only grocery shopping, but also dining and socializing. I think this store is now one of my favorite locations (from a design, amenity & shopper journey perspective,) along with Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, Post Oak in Houston, Texas and the Gilman store in Berkeley, California.
Below is a photo tour of my first visit to the new Tysons store.
This store is HUGE and everything is just gorgeous. I conduct a lot of shopper-research based USA Market Tours for exporters from other countries and also Supermarket Tours for local embassies in Washington, DC who have visiting delegations of farmers or food industry businesspeople eager to learn more about grocery retail in the USA. I’ll now have a sparkly, new place to bring them that’s super convenient.
I spotted several kid-friendly areas around the store, including this super cute Whole Kids Club area offering free snacks for kids shopping in the store.
I love the design of this store; so bright and cheery.
I visited this store the week of November 10th, 2019, so holiday entertaining (Thanksgiving turkey promo) signage was in full effect.
Since I work a lot with the meat category, I was especially excited to see the meat department. Everything looked perfect! Note the new black window cling along the top of the meat case featuring my client, Global Animal Partnership’s new animal welfare certified label.
Spotted several of my clients’ products, including Atkins Ranch grass fed lamb, whose lamb loin chops were currently on sale for Amazon Prime Members.
Lots of turkeys already available, ahead of ‘turkey day,’ Thanksgiving. Nice to see the new Global Animal Partnership animal welfare certified label!
For all my honey industry folks, have a look at the honey range available here. For American standards, this is a wide selection of Manuka honey (see top shelf.)
Beautiful packaging!
Welcome to cheese Heaven, featuring some of the best cheese from around the world.
Upstairs is High Point, a 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub and game room offering several self-serve food options. This is the main gathering place. I visited the store during late morning, but come lunch time, this place was packed!
I spotted a mom’s group here fueling up on coffee and probably then later, wine. It’s the perfect spot to meet with friends. When the weather is warmer, the outdoor patio area has lots of seating, including children’s tables.
The food hall includes Officina, Genji Izakaya, Curiosity Doughnuts and Rappahannock Oyster Co.
Have you visited this new Whole Foods Market store, or perhaps one of the other new stores opened during 2019? What were your impressions? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts; I’m curious to know what you think.
According to WBJ Research, Whole Foods Market is the ninth-largest grocer in the greater Washington DC area, with 4.46% market share in 2018. The Tysons store is the grocery retailer’s 10th location in Northern Virginia.
Want to drive sales of your products at Whole Foods Market?
If your products are sold in Whole Foods Market, work with Green Purse PR to better understand its shoppers and communicate with them. We conduct shopper research, as well as plan and implement PR & digital marketing campaigns targeting Whole Foods Market shoppers. Contact us here for more details.
Want to learn more about the American grocery retail landscape?
Work with us on one of our USA Market Trips or Supermarket Tours (Embassies, see this link.) Contact us here for more details.
Curious to learn more about Whole Foods Market shoppers?
Purchase our syndicated research report, How to Win with Whole Foods Market Shoppers here.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, CEO, Green Purse PR
Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's 500th Store | Midtown Atlanta, Georgia
Photo Tour of Whole Foods Market's 500th Store | Midtown Atlanta, Georgia
While in Atlanta over Easter break, I visited the newly opened Midtown Atlanta location of Whole Foods Market. I needed to see first hand the retailer’s 500th milestone store. It’s gotten quite a lot of good publicity and features some fun, new amenities.
Located at 22 14th Street NW in Related Group’s Icon Midtown residential development, the new 70,000 square-foot, multi-level flagship store is a community gathering destination featuring four fast-casual eateries and more than 1,500 local items from 250 suppliers, many new to Whole Foods Market.
I visited early Saturday morning, the day before Easter. It was super peaceful before the crowds came to get their pre-Easter #WholeFoodsHaul on. Since it was early and I LOVE Allegro coffee (iced latte every day for me,) my first stop was Capital Commons, a cozy full-service Allegro coffee and espresso bar. They are early risers too; the cafe opens at 6 AM daily.
Below are some photos of the new Midtown store.
The fresh fruit and veg section is super colorful and pretty!
Look who I spotted on the Prime Member Deals board at the entrance of the store — our client, Atkins Ranch lamb from New Zealand! Nice to see Wellshire Farms’ ham on there as well — both meat brands are animal welfare certified by Global Animal Partnership.
Photo source: Atlanta Curbed
Huge meat department with gorgeous display on for Easter and Passover. I like to see those butcher case clings featuring Global Animal Partnership’s 10 year anniversary!
Look what’s featured front and center — Atkins Ranch leg of lamb, during its nationwide promo with Amazon Prime. Normally $9.99 USD per pound (in this region) for leg of lamb, the sale offered leg of lamb at just $6.99 USD per pound for Amazon Prime members. The team of butchers in this store made a gorgeous display of lamb!
Atkins Ranch’s retail ready lamb cuts are new to the South region of Whole Foods Market. Super convenient for shoppers who want to quickly grab and go.
I spy some good looking beef from White Oak Pastures, local to Georgia.
Check out these new meal kits, mostly with meat and some with fish, with some calling out “keto” or “paleo.” Very cool.
Here’s what you’ll find on the roof of the new store. There’s a space for games, eating and even yoga.
Photo source: Curbed Atlanta
Photo source: Curbed Atlanta
Curious to learn more about Whole Foods Market shoppers?
Download our report, How to Win with Whole Foods Market Shoppers here.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, CEO, Green Purse PR
You may also be interested in our blog post, What Amazon Prime Members Think About New Lower Prices at Whole Foods Market. Read it here.
What Amazon Prime Members Think About New Lower Prices at Whole Foods Market
Travel Notes from Japan | Market Observations from Grocery Retail
Travel Notes from Japan | Market Observations from Grocery Retail
I was just in Japan for two weeks. I went to conduct some shopper research for a client and while there, had a vacation with my husband and our friends as well. I traveled all over Tokyo, took a bullet train over to Kyoto, drove a car to Mount Fuji and then back to Tokyo. I loved getting to know Japan (and will definitely be back,) had some amazing foodie experiences and learned a lot about Japan’s grocery retail landscape and Japanese shoppers.
Have a look at my photos below to see some of the many observations I made while working and traveling around in Japan.
Firstly, Japan makes a wide variety of specialty foods, some of which looks like good candidates to make it in America. More on that in this separate blog post.
Much like the American market, you’ll find a wide variety of retail outlets ranging from convenience stores (Lawson’s or Family Mart are everywhere,) conventional supermarket chains, independent specialty shops, specialty food chains, and high end food halls and shops inside luxury department stores.
This was definitely my favorite specialty food store, Akomeya Tokyo TOKYO公式オンラインショップのページです。akomeya.jp.
Gorgeous specialty food section inside the high end department store, Kyoto BAL, www.bal-bldg.com/kyoto.
In the cities people are making multiple trips per week to the grocery store. Most pop in by foot or on bicycle. Riding bicycles is huge here. You’ll see moms on their bikes carrying around two children – one in the front and one in the back, leaving very little space to tote around a lot of groceries.
Coffee culture is alive and well here. So glad about that as I’m no fun to be around unless I’m properly caffeinated in the morning.
Found the cutest Aussie cafe, Bondi Cafe, across from Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. Check them out on your next visit to Tokyo: bondicafe.net/bondi-cafe-yoyogi-beach-park.
Specialty bread is also a big deal here. Definitely ate the most expensive bread I’ve ever had and yes it was worth it! Seriously though, how pretty is this bread store? It looks like a jewelry shop. Not limited to just the specialty, expensive types of bread, regular bread is popular too. On several occasions I saw people wrapped around a city block in line for fresh bread at a bakery. With a specialty product like the one you see below, this is more for a gifting occasion instead of a regular purchase, so I’m told by shoppers.
Apparently everyone leaves here very happy as evidenced by these folks.
Japanese love their beef. Everyone’s heard of Japan’s famous Wagyu and Kobe beef, both of which are delicious. I did some research on the meat category while there; look for another upcoming blog post soon just about the meat category in Japan.
Japanese shoppers enjoy a wide variety of meat cuts. Go to a butchery or open up a restaurant menu and you’ll see some cuts you may not be familiar with -- like beef tongue. Nice to see people willing to accept those “minority cuts of meat” so the entire carcass is used and nothing goes to waste.
Beef tongue — looks nice, right?
Presentation is taken very seriously here. In the higher end specialty shops you’ll see beautiful merchandising. Staff inside grocery stores seem to take great pride in their work (that’s a nice change!) and obsess over the details ensuring products look perfect on the shelves. While checking in on some of my clients products there, I was very happy to find them in perfect order.
And if you’re like me, and are attracted to pretty, minimal packaging, you’ll find a lot of products that catch your eye.
I took a close look at honey on supermarket shelves around Japan. I’ll have more on that for you in an upcoming blog post, so stay tuned here.
I observed some organic products, but not a lot. Most of the shoppers I conducted shop-alongs with were not having organic or chemical-free top of mind. That said, what was top of mind is food cleanliness, safety and country of origin.
The USA, France and Australia have done a good job of promoting products from their countries here as the Japanese have an affinity for products coming from these countries.
I see Outback Steakhouse has also made it to Japan. Japanese enjoy a taste of the Outback as well.
I observed some unique flavors as ingredients in products like soft drinks, chocolates — basically anything had a version that was matcha green tea, wasabi, peach or cherry blossom/sakura flavor.
I know it’s not organic, but I do enjoy a Coca-Cola every once in a while. Tried one of these and it was super sweet, but delicious. I could not finish it all, but definitely worth trying.
On the go eating is not common here as it’s considered impolite to eat while walking around or otherwise on the go. If you buy some takeaway food, it’s meant to be eaten near the vendor before going about your business. Despite that, supermarket shelves have a wide variety of interesting snack food.
Spotted some familiar products from back in the USA on supermarket shelves in Japan.
Does your brand want to launch into the Japanese market?
While in Japan, we took a deep dive into the grocery retail landscape and shopped-along with Japanese consumers, delivering valuable insights, feedback and recommendations for our client who we conducted research for.
Green Purse PR conducts shopper research all over the world and looks forward to doing more shopper research in Japan. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about the Japanese market and consumers.
Or, are you from a Japanese company that wants to launch into the USA?
Good news — we’ll be back in Tokyo later this year and we’ll be bringing fresh insights from the American consumer market with us. I’m currently planning one of Green Purse PR’s Go To Market USA Workshops. These workshops are for exporters and focus on understanding the American consumer market to ensure export success. Each program is customized, but typically includes a half day or full day workshop covering topics such as: the American retail landscape, shopper insights, best practices in consumer marketing, competitive intelligence, resources and a brainstorming and Q&A session. Click here for more details on the Go To Market USA Workshops and contact us for details on the upcoming program happening later in 2019 in Tokyo.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder, Green Purse PR
Photo Tour of MOM's Organic Market | Gaithersburg, Maryland
Photo Tour of MOM's Organic Market in Gaithersburg
MOM's Organic Market is an independent, family owned, natural foods retailer with currently 19 stores in the Washington, DC area, as well as Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The newly opened store I visited is located at 10 Upper Rock Cir, Rockville, Maryland 20850. The address is technically, Rockville, but it's right on the cusp of Gaithersburg.
If you've not been to a MOM's store before, you're in for a visual treat if you scroll through my photos below. I've shopped at other MOM's locations in DC for many years and love it. With an emphasis on organic products, along with their mission to protect and restore the environment, MOM's curates exceptional products and delights shoppers with unique offerings they might not find anywhere else. This is a store you can truly feel good about shopping with.
This new Gaithersburg store has lots of wide open spaces, given that it's in the suburbs. It's the nicest MOM's store I've seen yet! One thing I immediately noticed was the focus on bees throughout the store. I love all things honey, bees, bees wax, and of course saving the bees, plus I've been doing a lot of shopper research on the honey category recently. See for yourself in my photos here.
As I've been doing a lot of shopper research in the honey category lately, of course I checked out the honey aisle.
This store has a wide selection of honey.
Including 6 skus of Manuka honey from New Zealand
I'm noticing a theme throughout the store -- very bee-friendly. This plastic wrap alternative, Bee Wrap, made from bees wax, is nice.
More bee-friendly products
Portland Bee Balm
Burt's Bees (from my home state of North Carolina.)
Excited to see the Global Animal Partnership label here, on Bilinski's chicken sausage. That's the label I look for to buy higher welfare meats.
La Quercia also touting the GAP label.
An outstanding body care section! So many different brands and products from what I usually see in other retailers.
Tons of essential oils.
Spotted the Jack N' Jill brand from Australia; this is the kind my kids use.
I bought some of these sticks and the stick holder for my backyard. Seems to be working well!
Found some wool dryer balls, also from New Zealand. Love the branding; I bought these too - love to support the New Zealand companies.
I've not seen beekeeper supplies in a grocery store before; very cool.
A look inside my shopping basket.
I'm not kidding about the emphasis on bees. Super cute grocery bag!
Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more grocery store visits from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets.
If you're keen to learn more about the grocery retail landscape in America, consider working with us on a workshop. Our workshop, Making it in America: How to Enter & Succeed in the Diverse Food Retail Marketplace, is one of the sessions we teach most and is very popular amongst companies from outside the USA. Contact me, Lisa Mabe, for more details about our workshops and other retail related services we offer. We teach workshops, conduct research and plan or execute public relations programs for companies all over the world. I look forward to hearing from you. Contact us here.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder, Green Purse PR
Photo Tour of Thanopoulos (Θανόπουλος) - Athens, Greece
Supermarket Tour | Thanopoulos (Θανόπουλος in Greek) in Athens, Greece
While in Greece recently on holidays, I took some time to squeeze in a bit of work. I've been to Greece several times before, (my husband is from Greece) but this was my first time doing a proper supermarket tour of Athens and conducting shopper research there.
Athens has some lovely supermarkets and one of my favorites is Thanopoulos, known for stocking a wide variety of products from all over the world and the place to 'see and be seen' apparently. For those not already familiar with Thanopoulos, it is a privately-held family business that has been around since 1877. Thanopoulos currently has three locations in Athens. I visited the Thanopoulos supermarket in the neighborhood of Kifissia (Κηφισιά,) an upscale residential and shopping district, and quite possibly my favorite place in Athens, other than the coast (Vouliagmeni is still my most favorite spot.) Have a look inside one of Athen's best supermarkets, Thanaopoulos, located at: N. Kifissia Ελαιών 38 14564 Athens, GR-A1.
Entrance to Thanopoulos N. Kifissia store
View from the large, roof top patio offering views of nearby mountains.
From the roof top patio. There is a cafe just inside.
View from the second level, looking down on the cash registers.
Organic fruit & vegetables
Fancy Greek olive oils, something Greece is certainly very well known for in the USA.
Minced/ground beef. Lamb and pork, however, seem to be the meats of choice in Greece.
The meat aisle
Organic poultry with the EU Organic Farming certification. Other than that label, nothing real signifiant in terms of claims & product attributes.
Notice some familiar American brands on the snack ailse.
Tons of fancy Greek honey.
Love this pretty honey packaging.
Natural laundry products
The Greeks take their sea salt very seriously. I buy some of these same brands at my local Greek specialty food shop in Washington, DC.
My first time seeing donkey milk.
Organic Greek chocolate
Dining space & cafe
A special perk for parents - a play space with an attendant to watch your children while you grocery shop. This mom loves seeing special accomodations for moms, parents and children.
One more shot from the roof top patio. It was so pretty, I came up here for coffee and a meeting.
If I lived in Athens, I would definitely shop here. It's a modern beautiful, store with lovely amenities and a huge variety of international products on offer. It's no wonder that Athenians are willing to drive out of their way (in some cases,) just to shop at one of the three Thanopoulos locations.
Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more grocery store visits from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder, Green Purse PR
Behind the Scenes of our Grocery Shopping Photo Shoot
Good to be back in Sydney, Australia
Green Purse PR's Lisa Mabe Back in Sydney
It was so nice to be back in Sydney during June to speak at conferences and meet with some of Green Purse PR's clients. Being previously based in Sydney, many of our clients are in Australia and it's a place I absolutely love.
Below are some photos showing a visual recap of my recent business trip. Highlights of the trip included speaking about marketing to millennial consumers at the Naturally Good Business Summit, and Naturally Good Expo / Fantastic Food + Drink Show. More on those trade shows + links to my presentations here.
While there, I toured some of the local grocery stores, and visited some of my old stomping ground. Have a look at some of the grocery stores we visited here:
The Australian market continues to be a major focus for myself and Green Purse PR. Australia has a lot to offer the world in terms of natural and organic products. I'm keen to help those companies be successful in markets like the USA, Middle East and Asia. Learn more about our expertise and capabilities here and contact me if you're keen to learn more.
- Lisa Mabe-Konstantopoulos, Founder, Green Purse PR
Curious to know what women in the USA think about products from Australia?
Watch this video I produced, featuring our shop-along research, for the Naturally Good Expo.
Photo Tour of Central Market - Houston, Texas
Photo Tour | Whole Foods Market in Las Vegas, Nevada
Will Grocers Like Whole Foods Market Reinvent the 'Meal Kit?'
Photo Tour | Woolworths in Crows Nest, Sydney
I recently returned from a business trip to Sydney, Australia, where I used to be based. I was in town to speak at the Naturally Good Expo and Naturally Good Business Summit. While there I had a look at some of Sydney's grocery retail scene, including some of the stores I used to shop at when I lived in Sydney.
One of the stores I visited was Woolworths in Crows Nest. This 'Woolies' store just reopened in April 2016 after two years of major renovation. I shopped at this Woolies during my time in Sydney; last time I was here it was still being demolished. Now, $52 million later in redevelopment, it's a completely different store. Previously it was a very tired, soulless, one-level store -- the kind that's so unpleasant, you can hardly wait to get out of it. Now it's shiny, new and includes multiple-levels.
Below are some photos I took of Woolworths located at 10 Falcon St, Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia.
Woolworths - Crows Nest, Sydney
Such a beautiful structure on the outside. Crows Nest is an adorable community, but it could use some updating. The new Woolworths helps modernise the community.
Main level includes lots of grab & go options.
Spotted several products featuring the Australian Certified Organic bud, Australia's most recognised organic certification amongst Australian consumers.
This Thomas Dux corner on the first floor made me sad. I'm glad Woolworths still managed to let the brand live on in some form, but I'm disappointed that the stand alone stores no longer exist. Thomas Dux Grocer closed about two years ago. There used to be an outstanding Thomas Dux right around the corner from here; it's now a different store, called About Life. Read my blog post, photo tour of About Life here.
Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more information on grocery retail and from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets.
Photo Tour | About Life in Crows Nest, Sydney
I recently returned from a few weeks working in Australia. During my time in Sydney (my old home) I visited several grocery retailers, including some of my old go-to spots from when I lived in Sydney.
For me, I study (through shop-along research) how health-conscious consumers around the world grocery shop, so I'm always keen to have a look at the in-store environment, identify new products and try to understand what's resonating with shoppers.
One of the stores I visited is About Life in Crows Nest, on Sydney's Lower North Shore. About Life is a natural supermarket and whole foods cafe with seven locations in Sydney and one in Melbourne (as of this writing.) This store was converted from a Thomas Dux Grocer store (sadly, no longer with us) to About Life about two years ago. About Life, Crows Nest is located at: 13 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia. When I lived in Sydney, and this was still Thomas Dux Grocer, this store was where we bought most of our groceries.
The layout of the store is mostly the same as it was under Thomas Dux. It now features a cafe section and has been re-skinned for the About Life brand. This is a great store to discover unique and healthy products, from fresh food and packaged snacks to natural nappies and body care.
Below are photos I took while visiting About Life located at 13 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia.
Stayed tuned here on our blog, #GetInHerCart, for more information on grocery retail and from our travels around the world as we speak at various conferences and conduct shopper research in different markets.