It’s just an average day at Trader Joe’s, the gourmet, specialty, and natural-foods store that off ers staples such as milk and eggs along with curious, oneof-

a-kind foods at below-average prices in almost thirty states. Foodies, hipsters, and recessionistas alike are attracted to the chain’s charming blend of low prices, tasty treats, and laid-back but enthusiastic customer service.

Shopping at Trader Joe’s is less a chore than it is immersion into another culture. In keeping with its whimsical faux-nautical theme, crew members and managers wear loud tropical-print shirts. Chalkboards around every corner unabashedly announce slogans such as, “You don’t have to join a club, carry a card, or clip coupons to get a good deal.” Take a walk down the aisle of Trader Joe’s and learn how sharp attention to the fundamentals of retail management made this chain more than the average Joe.