The Meaning Behind Trader Joe's Employees Wearing Hawaiian Shirts - The Daily Meal (2024)

FAQs

The Meaning Behind Trader Joe's Employees Wearing Hawaiian Shirts - The Daily Meal? ›

Trader Joe's employees are extra friendly, and their Hawaiian shirts have become emblematic of the grocery store and its goal of being fun and unique. The shirts tie in with Trader Joe's nautical theme and, according to Trader Joe's website, are worn by "our Crew of adventurous traders on the culinary seas.”

The brand's website refers to its Crew Members as “adventurous traders on the culinary seas,” and the Hawaiian shirts are just one more way to add to the stores' whimsical, nautical allure.

Trader Joe's various employees wear different kinds of shirts. Solid shirts with hibiscus flowers on them mean you've found a regular crew member. Track down someone in a Hawaiian shirt if you need a manager. Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below.

“The biggest kicker for us here is how cheap it is,” Ippy Aiona, chef and owner of Ippy's Hawaiian BBQ on the Big Island, said of Trader Joe's. “You have all this diversity, they make a bunch of good products, and it's cheap.”

Then, shortly after Hawaii became a state in 1959, a group that wanted to support the local garment and textile businesses had another big idea. The Hawaiian Fashion Guild proposed Aloha Friday, where all were encouraged to wear aloha shirts in the workplace. It was, you guessed it, a hit.

They are worn casually or as informal business attire in Hawaii. "Aloha Friday", or Casual Friday, a now-common tradition of celebrating the end of the workweek by wearing more casual attire on Fridays, initially grew out of an effort to promote aloha shirts.

But the most iconic tropical element is the people themselves. Employees don't wear aprons or monotone uniforms but rather colorful, flowered aloha shirts. It's just one part of the customer experience at the cult-favorite grocery store chain — and it no doubt fuels the employees' sunnier-than-average disposition.

Trader Joe's is named after its founder, Joe Coulombe. The company began in 1958 as a Greater Los Angeles area chain known as Pronto Market convenience stores.

Instead of calling their workers employees, Trader Joe's has nautical titles for positions. crew members are entry-level workers. Merchants are crew members who've received recognition for stellar customer service.

We are committed to providing our customers outstanding value in the form of the best quality products at the best everyday prices. Through our rewarding products and knowledgeable, friendly Crew Members, we have been transforming grocery shopping into a welcoming journey full of discovery and fun since 1967.

Why is Trader Joe's so addictive? ›

When you go into a large grocery store you have so many choices… Too many for most people to make an informed decision. Trader Joe's pares that down for you so it makes it easier to navigate the store. Another big thing that attracts people is that they cater to special diets, from gluten free to vegetarian to kosher.

Opening any sort of business in Hawaii is difficult. The cost of rent and supplies is much higher than most other places in the U.S. On top of that, Trader Joe's would have to ship all of its goods from the mainland – including its frozen goods – which would cost a pretty penny.

The bell is rung one, two, or three times to ask for help and draw the attention of the captain and crew that are spread out across the store. (TJ's employees are called crew and managers are called captains. Both the names and the bells are a nod to the store's nautical theme.)

Additional FAQs: Do you need to wear a undershirt with a Hawaiian shirt? Only if you feel like it, but no, you do not have to. Which brings us around to another question you may have about the topic; do you wear a Hawaiian shirt tucked in, or not tucked in?

Most people don't wear anything under a Hawaiian shirt, but if you want to absorb sweat on hotter days, stay warm on cooler days, or wear your Hawaiian shirt open, t-shirts and tanks are the way to go.

Trader Joe's employees are known for always dressing in a Hawaiian theme.

The inspiration

As it turns out, the Hawaiian theme isn't quite as random as it seems. In 1967, the year that Joe found what is now America's favorite grocery store, via People, he experienced a combination of travel and literature that inspired the store's theme.

Vibrant, bold shirts are the "uniform" worn by our Crew of adventurous traders on the culinary seas. We search the world over for fantastic, interesting items to bring home for our customers to discover. We think grocery shopping should be fun, not another chore, so we wear ourselves (and our shirts!) lightly.

In a recent episode on the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, CEO Bryan Palbaum addressed the rumors that employees are trained to flirt with customers and said it's just that – a rumor. But Palbaum said he understands why employees' signature chattiness “might be misinterpreted.”