Uneven Retail Environment in Lakewood Poses Challenges
Article from KosherToday.com- Lakewood NJ…by KT Staff Reporters
It was Wednesday evening, the first of the three-day pre-Shabbat shopping period in this growing hub for kosher foods. Yet, while some of the large independent stores were “busy,” others weren’t leaving some in the kosher food industry to wonder why. The magnificently mega Bingo store was virtually deserted leading some to speculate that the club-like kosher store was underachieving here compared to its pilot store in Boro Park. When Bingo first opened, Kosher Today reported that some local stores lost as much as 25% of their business. Most retailers in the area believe that as time went on, it was reduced to less than half (10%-12%), particularly on the eve of major holidays like Passover.
Located on Route 70 near such stores as Costco and Home Depot, the Israeli-style super store (Bingo is affiliated with the Osher Ad chain in Israel) has not yet captivated the Lakewood market. One kosher food industry veteran speculated that the location may not be as convenient for Lakewooders as was thought. In fact, Miriam, shopping with her husband in the extremely crowded Gourmet Glatt, said: “It’s a shlep for me since I live on the other side of town.” She also said that she liked the
selection and takeout at Gourmet Glatt. Across town, Evergreen was crowded with the growing number of local shoppers who live within earshot of the upscale kosher supermarket. Hundreds of new houses and units are being built in the immediate area. Season’s was moderately busy on this Wednesday night, but far less than Gourmet Glatt and Evergreen. Bingo plans to go next to Monsey and is said to be eyeing several other communities. The kosher food veteran wondered if in the end Bingo could sustain its small margins especially if vendors “don’t capitulate to being squeezed.” He noted that many of the stores in Lakewood compete favorably with price and some offer a better customer experience. He called it an experiment where the jury is still out. In Lakewood, for the moment, given the mixed reviews. it appeared to be a hung jury.
Koshertoday.com
Competition is always good for the consumer. Look how other stores have suddenly dropped prices and increased services.
ReplyDeleteThe above article fails to mention that for people who live in south lakewood or along the pine street corridor Bingo is pretty close by and lots of people shop there for tge sales and unique items.
Its right next to Costco where people have no problem shlepping to.
I don't do much shopping, have never been to Bingo, although members of my family have. The problem which I heard from them is that the lines move extremely slowly. The workers they have are not are slow, and on top of that, they don't bag your items which causes the line to be even slower. Add to that the fact that the store is a 10 minute further drive each way, and a trip to Bingo can easily take 45 minutes to an hour longer than a trip to a different store. Not everyone has that extra time to go shopping there. Management needs to figure out how to make the lines move quicker, and once they do, they need to get the word out about it.
ReplyDeleteThe competition that the new stores have brought to Lakewood is probably one of the most nefarious and sinister possible. It has totally undermined the economic basis of Lakewood which used to be primarily a Yeshiva town, with its goals and aspirations spiritual rather than materialistic. The original, resident owned and operated stores serving Lakewood before the invasion of the outside stores, did so with an eye and sensitivity to the nature of the town's residents. The new style of overwhelming gashmiyus and outreach via social media is anathema to the lifestyle the founders of Lakewood sought to inculcate. חבל על דאבדין.
ReplyDeleteDo you have the same טענות on the discount bulk buying programs before pesach and the ימים טובים does that also take away business
DeleteThose who run the special buying programs for Yungeliet and Rebbeim are doing it for a higher purpose - namely to help bring Simchas Yom Tov to those who have dedicated themselves to learning and teaching. It's a special program that does 2 distributions a year, at tremendous cost and effort of volunteers. They themselves recognise that they cannot do it on a weekly or even monthly basis. The new stores are hurting the economy by funneling money out of Lakewood.
DeleteSeriously hurting what economy?? Aside for an owner or two (some are doing just fine financially but thats beside the point), how may people locals are losing money...come one...
DeleteYou also contradict yourself in your two posts, first blaming the stores for changing the goals to materialistic ones, then for funneling money out. Make up your mind.
DeleteAnonymous 6:26 PM
Deletewhat about bringing simcha everyday to mishpachos with affordable weekly shopping
and the bulk buying programs are making a profit... shhh dont tell anyone
This might sound petty but I usually shop in GG. I went to bingo once and had to bag my own groceries with their flimsy bags and I decided not to go back- it was too much of a hassle. Also produce wasn’t as fresh as I’d like. If they were to fix these things then I would try again.
ReplyDeleteBingo has a phenomenal selection, wide and immaculate aisles and quick check-out. It's only a pity that they opted for a location closer to the newer chassidish developments and Toms River. For customers looking to do an all-encompassing, properly planned yom-tov shopping, there is no store quite like it. Easy in and out parking, insanely cheap prices, tremendous choice and a pleasant shopping experience. I'd say, its the only welcome and worthwhile addition to the retail scene.
DeleteThat’s why the owners of Bingo sold a 50% stake in The company to a Hedge Fund for 500 Million Shekels
ReplyDeleteThe zman magazine had a article about Bingo in the pesach issue the plan on implementation of a sophisticated self checkout system.
ReplyDeleteOsher Ad has a fabulous self-checkout system, using scanners that mount on to the shopping cart. Children love it too and they are an integral part of the shopping and process! You can scan and bag your purchases and then you breeze through the final payment checkout, all your purchases bagged and ready to go. The wait is minimal. I am really looking forward to seeing it in action at Bingo Lakewood very soon. Last week when I was there it seems to be imminently ready.
DeleteThey have to get bags that are not Israeli garbage.. is that too much to ask?
ReplyDeleteBingo opened on the Outskirts of Boro Park on 60th street so they figured they can open. On the outskirts of Lakewood and also be successful. The problem is there is no comparison
ReplyDeleteTheir location on route 70 is way out with u turns and jug handles most ladies are busy they have children and jobs etc they are not interested in making a whole Long distance Chol Hamoed trip to pick up groceries to save a few dollars they would rather shop in their own neighborhood. In Bor park you cannot find parking so ot is convenient to go to Bingo because they have a parking garage. Lakewood supermarkets all have parking lots
People have no problem driving to Costco no one complains that it's too far.
Deleteit seems like a bingo employee has the job of replying to every comment and saying incredible and super-duper-amazing they are.
ReplyDelete