Friday, February 17, 2012

Another Instance of Being a Consumer Magnet?

Dad and Meridith had the day off from work today, a furlough day, meaning neither of them get paid. It's California's futile way of trying to save money in the budget that may have been there in the years that California was in good financial standing, but I always got the sense that this state has the habit of spending too much too fast. This is the result.

I'll never understand furlough days because if you're hired to do a job, and you do it well, you expect to be paid. That's what a job is. I always get this feeling that if I tried to dig further for the reasoning behind this, I'll end up with Rod Serling sitting next to me, telling me to take it easy and that it'll all work out.

Anyway, we went on a few errands in the early evening, sans Mom since she wanted to rest today. After the 99.99.999.9999 Cents Only store, we stopped in Sprouts for bananas, bagged spinach, and my favorite fat-free lemon chiffon yogurt from Cascade Fresh.

I've been hooked on this yogurt for a few months now. It doesn't have a this-is-so-obviously-a-manufactured-taste to it. Lemon puree is mixed into this yogurt, along with a few very tiny lemon pieces. When I started buying this yogurt regularly, the row for it in the yogurt section was always stocked, alongside Cascade Fresh's blueberry, strawberry, cherry, and vanilla yogurts, and others of the same brand that I barely glance at when I'm getting my yogurt.

Today, just like last Friday, the row of lemon chiffon yogurts was nearly empty. I don't think I can chalk this up to it not being replenished fast enough because all the other Cascade Fresh yogurts are sitting there, fully stocked. I had to reach way in the back to get two of them. And my arm had plenty of room to reach for them.

It's been gradual. The first few times I got this yogurt, there was always enough for me to grab, and then every time after, a little less and then a little less, and still a little less. I hope it's not an instance of Sprouts phasing this one out because it doesn't sell well. I'd say an empty row like that shows that it's selling very well. And I think I may be doing my part as a consumer magnet again. Never mind that it's fat-free, as there are a few other Cascade Fresh flavors sold there that are also fat-free. I have a feeling other shoppers have picked up on what I love about it.

It doesn't look like the company is giving up on the flavor either. It's still listed on its website, and I found out that it's also available in a 32oz. container. Sprouts has Cascade Fresh's 32oz. containers of blueberry and strawberry fat-free yogurts, and I wish they'd stock the 32oz. containers of lemon chiffon. An empty row like that should indicate that they should sell it. I'm hoping a supermarket or two or more in Henderson has thought of this. I need this over there too.

This is the only time I ever think about those who might have bought my favorite yogurt. Dieters, I'm sure, and people who like the tart flavor of lemon. It doesn't say anything about those who do because there is a sweetness along with the tart. It's a double-sided yogurt. The calorie count has to attract a few others as well, with 110 of them per serving. That's another reason it attracts me, since I have it as part of my lunch.

It'll be interesting to see what next Friday brings, now that I'm really paying attention to this.

[Note, again: I wasn't paid by Cascade Fresh for this post. I get enough out of their yogurt as it is. But looking at this, and my entry from Thursday, I clearly need to move on to another topic before I begin extolling the subtle complexities of Kleenex. Luckily, I have no idea what those might be. But there may be something in the yearly frustration of peeling the foil from refrigerated Cadbury Creme Eggs and then having to fingernail-scrape the pieces that remain stuck on the shell. It's that time of year again. I've just gone through it.]

8 comments:

  1. Ask the manager to stock what you want. Explain that the world will follow you in making purchases. I don't like yogurt, but you can make it sound delicious. I bet if I saw you actually looking at it and buying it, I'd buy 20 containers and eat them one after another.

    Love,
    Janie

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  2. I've got a hankering for yoghurt now...thank the lord for 24/7 stores :) Have a good weekend

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  3. the 99.99.999.9999 Cents Only store? Hahaha! That's what it feels like to me when I'm in there on a tight budget.

    Really take tight hold of your reciepts. Companies could end up paying you as a top-tier market research treasure trove.

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  4. Janie: Possible if I went there more than once a week. But I don't feel I need to ask the manager to stock that since I don't feel a great kinship with this valley. In Henderson, I'll make a little bit of noise if I need it. Politely, of course.

    G: I was relieved recently to find that Pavilions and other local supermarkets are stocking Yoplait Thick and Creamy yogurt, which used to be called Custard Style when I ate it as a tyke. I can't have it all the time now because I like my weight where it is, but I make sure to get at least one per week. The vanilla flavor is fine for now, but I want strawberry again.

    Shockgrubz: It was worth it yesterday because I found Quaker Chocolate Granola Bites, little chocolate granola balls in 90-calorie pouches. This is the first time I've ever seen them in this valley and this should catch on. The taste makes me want to pour soymilk into the pouch. It could become its own cereal. It has that effect.

    In considering possible careers, besides a full-time campus supervisor, research sounds attractive to me. I loved putting the puzzle pieces together for my essays on Brad Renfro, Aaliyah, and Heath Ledger for my first book, and I'm having so much fun with the research for Mayday! Mayday!: The Making of the Airport Movies. Peter Rich, son of the late director David Lowell Rich, e-mailed me today, saying to give him a couple of days as he's battling a winter cold, but once back up to speed, he wants to give me everything I want to know about The Concorde: Airport '79 and more. As a career, I would be fine with picking up the phone and e-mailing and whatever else is involved in finding the information that companies or people need to know. Mom has always expressed amazement at how I can find something for her on Google in two seconds, either something she wants to know about a product, or something the news stations mentioned before going to a commercial, but haven't reported yet. It's one of many options to think about.

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    1. What kind of research would you want to do as a profession? I think paralegals do quite a bit of research. I never thought that sounded as much fun as what I actually do, though, which is pretty much nothing.

      Love,
      Janie

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    2. Despite my interest in the Supreme Court, and some of the lower courts as a result, no, no, no, no, no, no no! I can't imagine being a paralegal. I don't have that much passion for the law. It's just one idea of many.

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  5. I believe you're the only person in my acquaintance (virtual or otherwise) who would even attempt to write an entire blog post about fat free lemon yogurt. That you did it so well is amazing to me.

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    1. When it comes to mind, I have to write it.

      Next, I may have to write about what I'm doing right now, spending hours on the Directors Guild of America, seeking people related to unit production managers and assistant directors who worked on the three "Airport" sequels. Plus I contacted on Facebook the screenwriter of "Airport 1975," asking for an interview with him. This doesn't feel tedious at all to me because one of these e-mails have to lead to the information I need. Hopefully.

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