Definitely! It is a fact that many elderly people have daily routines that take them to places where they know the shopkeepers, and the shopkeepers know them. These visits are a vital (pun intended) part of their existence and social interaction. They are not couch potatoes but, in their way, active members of their immediate community. Newsstands, grocery stores, coffee bars, post offices, banks, beauty parlors/barbers, and a weekly tennis/pickle ball match, can all be an attraction to the aged. The retail formats that know this will benefit from welcoming them with a friendly environment.

Jumbo’s initiatives are certainly worth pursuing, and I imagine will have a certain level of success with older generations.

One of this issues for younger generations is not an isolation from others, but rather an OVEREXPOSURE to others, specifically to loose social connections. So while the term “social isolation” might be an accurate representation of the feeling one has when experiencing it, it is not representative of the cause, which is complicated.

But back to the Jumbo initiatives – any experience that allows for recognition and confirmation of the innate value of others is good in my book.

Can grocery stores impact social isolation? Absolutely! Have you visited a Wegmans? Attended one of its Friday night dances or shared a table with a stranger for dinner or a glass of wine? I’m good with anything that brings people together, and the grocery store seems the perfect place to start.

This is one of the most important things people forget about retail: visiting physical stores isn’t always about the need or desire to procure physical goods. It is an easy form of interaction and a way of engaging with the wider world in a space that is convenient and designed for sociability. Taking this to the next level with functions specifically designed to encourage interaction makes a lot of sense.

We’ve spent the last decade doing everything possible to avoid connecting with others: online shopping, texting, Facebook, etc. But humans are social animals, and it appears that our need for connection is beginning to push the pendulum back.

Grocery stores have the highest frequency of shopping trips of all retail, so making the store a place for social connection makes tremendous sense. It’s more than “chatty checkouts” though. The first step is to get more people (i.e., employees) out talking to shoppers. And creating gathering spaces makes a lot of sense. This isn’t just about seniors — we are all looking to connect.
Putting more effort here would benefit the community, and help to create a loyal shopper base for the store. Forget the robots – let’s invest in humanity.

In our digital age, face-to-face contact has become more powerful — and rare.

That’s why grocery stores make an ideal fit for local social initiatives. Most consumers shop for groceries at least once a week, so grocery stores could help those who feel isolated by giving them weekly opportunities to feel like they belong.

Since the nature of food is communal, grocers’ social initiatives could instill a sense of community that offers meaningful social benefits.

Yes, grocers can make a positive impact and yes, I do think that where appropriate, shoppers will participate. This is a very positive step towards helping people that feel isolated and yes, not just for seniors but young people as well who use social media to such an extent that they are sometimes more isolated than seniors. The art of conversation is something that many young people struggle with. It is not the responsibility of the grocer to do this, but you see grocers in Europe doing this which is consistent with the way many other countries treat and in fact cherish their elders. In a way, Starbucks and Barnes & Noble have been doing this since day one. Although most will be engaged with their phones or computers, there is human interaction as well. Bravo Jumbo!

Well, well, well. Here’s an idea I wrote about 30 years ago finally come to fruition. Three decades ago I looked at the demographics and extrapolating forward concluded all retailers, but especially supermarkets, had the opportunity to build customer loyalty through compassionate capitalism. Twenty years ago Fred Crawford and I pushed the same idea even further in our book “The Myth of Excellence” arguing that businesses were being called on to offer people the same reinforcement they had previously found in church, work and school. There were a lot of us who saw social isolation becoming a problem ahead of the social media revolution. Just read Putnam’s “Bowling Alone.” And now Jumbo has taken the plunge. Can grocery stores positively impact this problem? Of course, and smart ones will. Will people make use of these services? Hang out with any retired Boomers and see if that is still even a question. Are there other things retailers could do like providing community meeting spaces for everything from adult education to lectures on aging? Sure, the sky… Read more »

Of course the young experience loneliness at an alarming rate–they’re glued to their phones! Shopping in physical stores, however, is inherently social. So as long as retailers continue to use brick-and-mortar to sell their wares, and use genuine human beings to operate their stores, they can help alleviate social isolation. I like the ideas of coffee corners and chatter checkouts for grocery. Ultimately, though, retailers must hire store talent for attitude, warmth, and empathy. A smile and genuine interest in shoppers goes a long way in enhancing social connections AND driving sales.

Recognition and acknowledgment at a grocery store is important not because it’s part of a business or training manual — it’s about human relationships rooted in genuine respect and kindness. We are a social species and need those confirmations to counter the march of alienation and isolation. Those chit chats during checkout at your favorite grocery store have an immeasurable power to uplift and bring warmth in unexpected ways.

Just because the latest trend is for online shopping we should not expect that all customers want the isolation and speed that comes with that form of retailing. As this article states, many people need to have the social interaction of shopping and self-checkouts. Robots and other ways of reducing that social interaction may work for some but not for all. We have talked many times about retailing being a social activity. If people do not have other forms of social activity in their lives then we must not remove this substitute. Clearly Jumbo in Holland has realized that by offering these social, interactive activities in its store it is firstly offering a public service but also gaining customers and probably very loyal customers too. The whole store does not have to look the same or provide the same service. This is a great initiative and one that should be applauded. Other retailers should consider if they could gain from introducing similar initiatives – It will certainly help fight the online businesses. If automation and… Read more »

Many grocery stores in rural areas are community centers where shoppers begin their day with a cup of coffee in the cafe and where strangers become friends. “Chatter Checkouts” are a great addition to these stores where shoppers — especially seniors — are not in a rush. I remember reading a story about a supermarket in England that replaced many traditional checkouts with self-checkout terminals. The shoppers rebelled. As one said, “I miss talking to the cashiers when I check out.”

This is a nice idea with no downside. Our grocery store has a little corner that people share. There are always people there. The Whole Foods area for food isn’t as much for visiting as for eating. Starbucks built a business on this concept, surely it will work in grocery stores.

Just please clearly identify the “chatter lines.” When in a hurry, I do not want to be stuck there. On the other hand, if they are clearly identified, will using them be perceived as a social stigma? Maybe employees roving through the store engaging interested consumers in conversation would be more effective. Having areas for coffee and chatting provides an opportunity for social conversations with friends or with employees.

I love that we are talking about the social value of a shopping trip. The grocery is a classic “third place” where there are people and not expectations. So the social aspects aren’t simply about being around people but sometimes about being around people without expectations (like when things at home are rough).

All that said, I fully agree with the concerns at the end of the article. Overtly attempting to CREATE this experience with a “social area” seems a bust.

Stores SHOULD be aware of this issue. But the things which will make their locations good socially are far more subtle and will result from a thousand small changes — not a headline making “social area.”

I’m not convinced that those who are truly lonely will be the first to participate in programs outwardly crafted for them.

However, it would seem that done properly, it will be attractive and eventually gain steam. Good ideas grow; sometimes slower than business would like. Let’s hope they’re patient.