Audio Story: The Heart of Trader Joe's
Introduction
Trader Joe's is more than a grocery store. It is a place where personality, teamwork, and genuine connection turn everyday shopping into something special. This story explores what makes Trader Joe's stand out through the voices of the people who bring its warm and welcoming atmosphere to life.
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Script
[0:00] Ambient: NAT SOUND: STORE AMBIENCE, BELL RINGING
[0:04] Joe Gass: Trader Joe's is known for its unique culture, and the people behind the scenes are a big part of what makes it special.
[0:09] Joe Gass: Today, you'll hear from Jeffrey Carter, the store captain in Murfreesboro and Teresa Keenan, a mate, as they share what brings Trader Joe's to life.
[0:16] Jeff Carter: My name's Jeff Carter.
[0:18] Jeff Carter: I am the captain of the Trader Joe's in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
[0:23] Jeff Carter: Our store opened April 10th, 2025, and I've been with the company for about 15 plus years now.
[0:30] Jeff Carter: We are a spectacle in every sense of the word.
[0:33] Jeff Carter: Compared to other retailers, we really focus in on the people experience, and we try to back that up with really awesome food at great prices.
[0:43] Jeff Carter: This location in particular, I would say, is a very friendly location, a very silly location.
[0:51] Jeff Carter: We are a great distraction from what goes on outside of these four walls.
[0:54] Ambient: NAT SOUND: STORE AMBIENCE, PHONE RINGING
[0:59] Jeff Carter: It's the people aspect, 100%.
[1:01] Jeff Carter: I believe Trader Joe's puts a great emphasis, this location in particular, but Trader Joe's overall puts a great emphasis on the hiring process.
[1:09] Jeff Carter: We want to hire excessively kind people, people that really enjoy being of service to others, and I think when you fill a store with those types of personalities, people that are just really people forward, I think something magical happens.
[1:25] Ambient: NAT SOUND: STORE AMBIENCE, BALER SOUNDS
[1:30] Teresa Keenan: I was feeling really sad, really alone in the world.
[1:34] Teresa Keenan: And the guy at the register was like, "Hey, how's your day going?"
[1:37] Teresa Keenan: And I'm all, "Yeah, fine."
[1:38] Teresa Keenan: You know, typical woman.
[1:39] Teresa Keenan: And then he looked at me in the eyes.
[1:42] Teresa Keenan: He was like, "No, really."
[1:44] Teresa Keenan: "How's your day going?"
[1:45] Teresa Keenan: And I almost started crying.
[1:46] Teresa Keenan: I sat there and talked to the guy for a few minutes, and I left there feeling cared about and loved.
[1:52] Teresa Keenan: I love that I get to have fun.
[1:54] Teresa Keenan: There's not one day I've worked at Trader Joe's in four years that I didn't want to come to work.
[1:58] Ambient: NAT SOUND: STORE AMBIENCE FADES OUT