When shopping at Trader Joe’s, a child found a stuffed animal on the shelves. Does anyone know the reason behind this? See why here.
Trader Joe’s is a chain of grocery stores with amazing food and drink from around the globe and around the corner, and that’s one of the reasons why these stores are people’s number one option when shopping.
Within the aisles of these stores lays a delight for those young in age and young in heart, a secret treasure hunt that brings incredible joy and makes the process of shopping a bit more exciting.
Stuffed animals are hidden for those with adventurous spirit to find, and this joyous experience is a win-win scenario according to Andie Lunkenheimer, a dedicated patron. “While adults shop, kids embark on an adventure,” she says.
This low-key game of hide-and-seek with all the kids who come in is beyond adorable. Any kid who finds the stuffed animal is given a special treat, like a lollipop, as a prize.
This idea is brilliant because those who are forced to take their kids shopping know how much effort it takes to keep them calm and make them behave.
By combining the element of shopping, which is something essential, with a dose of fun and excitement for the little ones turns the routine errands into a memorable experience for the entire family.
“Now, I cannot say that there is one in every single store, but in general, stores typically have one,” said Kendra Friend-Daniel, public relations director for Trader Joe’s.
“It’s a way to engage with kids in our store. If they locate the hidden stuffed toy, they just let a Crew Member know and they’ll receive a treat. The type of stuffed toy and treat may vary store to store, but for example, in my local Trader Joe’s there’s a hidden penguin and when my daughters locate it, they receive a lollipop.”
This isn’t the first time for the shops to be doing this. This year, a video of a customer who explains everything you need to know about this game went viral, and many believed this ‘toy-hunting’ thing was just a rumor, but in fact, this practice of hiding stuffed animals around the place is present for over a decade and clearly, kids, as well as parents, can’t get enough.
“If you’ve ever been to a Trader Joe’s before, you know their employees are extremely friendly and they’ve got a lot of healthy products that you just can’t find in other stores,” TikTok user timbosliceoflife12 says in the video. “And hidden within these healthy products you may find a random stuffed animal,” he continued.
The animals vary from one location to other, from majestic eagles, gentle whales, and playful bears to charming ducks, curious turtles, and even elusive lobsters, you name it.
However, not every store participates in this game, so when you visit a Trader Joe’s store, just ask the employees if there are any hidden animals in their store.