Calhoun invests in better experience

Published 10:22 pm Saturday, January 22, 2011

Calhoun Foods cashier Fredrica Whatley checks out a customer Saturday afternoon at the store’s location on J.L. Chestnut Boulevard. -- Chris Wasson

Calhoun Foods is getting an overhaul.

That overhaul is not a change in aesthetics, but a change in customer experience.

“Calhoun Foods is trying to give the customer that better time while in the store,” manager Jimmy Coleman said. “We are trying to reward the customer for being dedicated to us while they are shopping. We have added a little more structure to our store.”

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The beginning of the new Calhoun’s was the discounts of many of the store’s prices.

“In this economy you really have to give value to the shopper,” Coleman said. “We have dropped prices 10 percent. Starting with our direct service deliveries like Coke, chips and wine.”

The next thing was updating the register systems in the store.

“Everything is top-of-the-line,” he said. “We are getting cards for customers like other stores have already. We are setting it up recognize each individual’s spending habits and from there it will be able to give tailor-made discounts for each individual.”

The new system is one put in place by Market Master and could even offer free products as it finds the buying habits of each individual customer.

“Mr. Calhoun made a commitment to reduce the prices to better the experience,” Coleman said. “We want to make sure that the customer feels as appreciated as possible when they leave the store.”

Colman said he hoped this new change would encourage customers to come back to the store that sits on 415 J.L Chestnut Blvd.

“This is all about bringing the customers back,” Coleman said. “Once they are back we want to make the stay because they loved the experience.”