Tulsa Grocery Stores And Coupon Savings Companys

[Empower Tulsa]

Hello, I'm new here to Tulsa Now my understanding is that this forum area is for entrepreneur directed questions. 

My 1st question: With many grocery stores and shopping companies, and coupon savings programs in Tulsa how do you spend your money?  Where and why?
 
My 2nd question:  How do you decide on what store(s) you will shop for the week and can another store on the other side of town draw you away from your normal store?  If so then what are the factors.

[Empower Tulsa]

Reasors, Wal-Mart, Food Pyramid, and Wharehouse Market seem to be the most popular stores.....  Anyone.......

[Townsend]

Why are you asking?  What purpose does your post have?  You're not giving anyone a reason to respond.

[Empower Tulsa]

I am doing research for my Marketing Class.  The goal is to create a marketing strategy for an independent grocer in order to compete with the large chain stores.

[Townsend]

Hello, I'm new here to Tulsa Now my understanding is that this forum area is for entrepreneur directed questions. 

My 1st question: With many grocery stores and shopping companies, and coupon savings programs in Tulsa how do you spend your money?  Where and why?
 
My 2nd question:  How do you decide on what store(s) you will shop for the week and can another store on the other side of town draw you away from your normal store?  If so then what are the factors.

1st:  Reasor's and Sam's.  Reasor's - Close to my home and positive customer service experience.  Sam's - perception of savings.

2nd:  I choose between the stores by my needs and what they carry...and by what my wife tells me to do.  The only reason I switch to another store is due to a specific want or need that cannot be fulfilled by my usual places, ie.  I'll shop at an international market due to availability of some produce.

[custosnox]

I am doing research for my Marketing Class.  The goal is to create a marketing strategy for an independent grocer in order to compete with the large chain stores.

I figured it had something to do with marketing.  Don't mind helping out a student.  
Most of my shopping is done at walmart neighborhood market because it's convienient.  I do shop at reasors as well since they have better meat, and a few other items that I can't get at wal-mart.  Of course I'm not thrifty enough to use coupons, or really compare prices though I should.  As far as going to another part of town to shop, it would only be to get things that I could not get here, such as specialty foods.  

[DolfanBob]

Reasors for the most part had specialty produce that you just couldnt find anywhere else. And their meat was above average and that is why we went and have stayed with them. Not to mention the crazy 10 for 10 or that great meat sale promo's they are known for. Warehouse market back in the day when I shopped there had great low prices but the meat was sub par so I went to Hannover meats on Brookside for that. Albertsons(A.K.A.)Food Pyramid was just to high priced and the lay out of the items and trying to find what I was wanted was just to much for me to even go back.
I also just cant get a feel for Wal-Marts neighborhood markets. To me whats the point. They are already killing you at the Super Centers so why go to these stores.
I used to love the Consumers IGA here in Broken Arrow. They had great people that worked there and I knew most of them and the prices were always competitive and easy to find what I was looking for. Homeland was a disaster as far as I was concerned. Of course that could be my bias as to the way that Safeway treated my Mother after 20 years of service, when Homeland bought them out.
So as you can see, sometimes it is not an easy read as to why or where somebody chooses to Grocery shop. Hope that helps in some way.

[Empower Tulsa]

1st:  Reasor's and Sam's.  Reasor's - Close to my home and positive customer service experience.  Sam's - perception of savings.

2nd:  I choose between the stores by my needs and what they carry...and by what my wife tells me to do.  The only reason I switch to another store is due to a specific want or need that cannot be fulfilled by my usual places, ie.  I'll shop at an international market due to availability of some produce.

Ok. So product not price is what causes you to visit another store?

Is Sam's more for Bulk items (Shopping for the month)

Do you (your wife) ever use sales ads/ coupons why or why not? 

[Conan71]

Townsend and I have about five or six grocery stores within a mile radius of the area we live in.  When I'm going from home to the store it's usually Reasor's, Wal Mart Market, or Warehouse Market depending on what my main food needs are for the week.

I use Wal Mart Market, Reasors, Homeland, Warehouse Market, Save-A-Lot and Food Pyramid.  I also shop specialty markets like Bodean's, Perry's, and Nam Hai.

I'm not usually in the habit of using coupons, though I do browse through the weekly junk mail I get and see what specials Reasor's, FP, and Homeland have that week.  That will get me in the door some of the time, other times it's simply which place I'm driving near.

[Empower Tulsa]

I figured it had something to do with marketing.  Don't mind helping out a student.  
Most of my shopping is done at walmart neighborhood market because it's convienient.  I do shop at reasors as well since they have better meat, and a few other items that I can't get at wal-mart.  Of course I'm not thrifty enough to use coupons, or really compare prices though I should.  As far as going to another part of town to shop, it would only be to get things that I could not get here, such as specialty foods.  

The only store that i'm aware of the specialize in meat is Meat Market.  Which I read through a previous chat.  What is the difference with Reasors and Warehouse Markets Meat?  I assume they are both local not sure if Wal-Mart is or not.

"Specialty Foods" are these can products, Produce.....

[DolfanBob]

One other thing. The last Six Months or so. My Wife and myself print off online coupons and also clip them when we have access to a papers inserts.
Our grocery bill has went from 250 Dollars a week to now over 300. The coupons on a good shopping trip can save us the amount of the State tax. Not a bad trade off and not really that hard to do.

[Empower Tulsa]

Reasors for the most part had specialty produce that you just couldnt find anywhere else. And their meat was above average and that is why we went and have stayed with them. Not to mention the crazy 10 for 10 or that great meat sale promo's they are known for. Warehouse market back in the day when I shopped there had great low prices but the meat was sub par so I went to Hannover meats on Brookside for that. Albertsons(A.K.A.)Food Pyramid was just to high priced and the lay out of the items and trying to find what I was wanted was just to much for me to even go back.
I also just cant get a feel for Wal-Marts neighborhood markets. To me whats the point. They are already killing you at the Super Centers so why go to these stores.
I used to love the Consumers IGA here in Broken Arrow. They had great people that worked there and I knew most of them and the prices were always competitive and easy to find what I was looking for. Homeland was a disaster as far as I was concerned. Of course that could be my bias as to the way that Safeway treated my Mother after 20 years of service, when Homeland bought them out.
So as you can see, sometimes it is not an easy read as to why or where somebody chooses to Grocery shop. Hope that helps in some way.

Does reasors tend to have the best Sales ads? The only stores you did not mention are Target and Whole Foods any thoughts on them?

[Empower Tulsa]

Townsend and I have about five or six grocery stores within a mile radius of the area we live in.  When I'm going from home to the store it's usually Reasor's, Wal Mart Market, or Warehouse Market depending on what my main food needs are for the week.

I use Wal Mart Market, Reasors, Homeland, Warehouse Market, Save-A-Lot and Food Pyramid.  I also shop specialty markets like Bodean's, Perry's, and Nam Hai.

I'm not usually in the habit of using coupons, though I do browse through the weekly junk mail I get and see what specials Reasor's, FP, and Homeland have that week.  That will get me in the door some of the time, other times it's simply which place I'm driving near.

How much planning does it take when you are deciding what to purchase and where?  Is it just your needs as you stated or any other factors?

[Townsend]

Ok. So product not price is what causes you to visit another store?

Correct.

Is Sam's more for Bulk items (Shopping for the month)

Yes

Do you (your wife) ever use sales ads/ coupons why or why not?

We rarely use the coupon sites.  We consume very specific items and due to nutrition we don't switch.

[Red Arrow]

One other thing. The last Six Months or so. My Wife and myself print off online coupons and also clip them when we have access to a papers inserts.
Our grocery bill has went from 250 Dollars a week to now over 300. The coupons on a good shopping trip can save us the amount of the State tax. Not a bad trade off and not really that hard to do.

I thought for a moment you were going to attribute your grocery bill increase from $250/week to $300/week to the use of coupons.  Good thing no one edited your post and took you out of context.