
Photo: Twitter/@lena_berg7
Last week, People magazine profiled Trader Joe’s practice of hiding stuffed animals in most of its stores for kids to find and earn prizes.
The story came after an anonymous Trader Joe’s manager on an “Ask Me Anything” Reddit thread revealed that each store has a stuffed animal “hiding somewhere.” The manager elaborated, “It’s really just for kids to run around and find the missing animal, and they get a treat. Kids seem to LOVE it and parents go along with it, too.”
Social media threads show the practice has been going on for over a decade. The stuffed animals have included penguins, whales, monkeys and donkeys. Each is identified with a Trader Joe’s “crew member” name tag.
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, which is part of Meijer, similarly hides a red tractor in its store that kids are encouraged to find for a treat.
We just found out that Trader Joe’s hides stuffed animals for kids in their stores https://t.co/hVtnqWEipP pic.twitter.com/cSjsZmZ4uz
— melonbellies (@melonbellies) November 8, 2019
News of the programs comes as several retailers have discontinued in-store childcare services and kids’ play areas in part because parents are looking for ways to use the shopping experience to teach their kids about nutrition, different foods or other lessons, such as colors.
Other ways stores are trying to keep children engaged during the shopping experience include:
- Miniature shopping carts: A number of grocers offer kids-sized shopping carts, although Target pulled hundreds of them in 2006 after kids misbehaved. Ride-on toy cars attached to grocery carts can be found in some stores.
- Kid’s membership programs: At Giant Eagle and Market District, a Little Shopper Treat Card membership program lets kids under 10-years-old choose a free cookie from the bakery, a fresh piece of fruit or cheese from the deli on each visit.
- Freebies: Parenting sites tout the allure of free sampling stations offered by Costco and others to keep their kids attentive.
- Kids’ cooking classes: Whole Foods and Wegmans offer cooking classes aimed at parents with kids.
- Rides: Mechanical rides just outside the entrance are still often used as a tradeoff to encourage kids to behave while shopping. A famous one is Meijer’s pony mascot, Sandy, that still only costs a penny.
- Trader Joe’s Hides Stuffed Animals in Most Stores — and If Kids Find Them, They Can Get a Prize – People
- IamA Mate (manager) at Trader Joe’s!! Ask me anything 🙂 – Reddit
- The Best-Kept Secret at Trader Joe’s Is Surprisingly Sweet – Thekitchn
- Trader Joe’s has been hiding stuffed animals in store aisles for years — here’s why – Today
- Family Friendly Grocery Stores That Kids Love – Indy With Kids
- Meijer pairing kids with Sandy for TV spot featuring iconic penny pony rides – Holland Sentinel
- Cooking with Kids – Wegmans
- 5 Reasons Why I Always Bring My Kids with Me on My Costco Runs – Thekitchn
- Giant Eagle: New Little Shopper Treat Card – Deal Seeking Mom
- Target Just Removed a Shin-Bashing Menace From Its Stores – Fortune
BrainTrust

David Weinand
Chief Customer Officer, Incisiv

Liz Crawford
VP Planning, TPN Retail

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