We have a meeting each month where we take a break from our work and practice brainstorming about ways to improve everyday items. We thought an appropriate name for this meeting was "Build a better mousetrap," but as it invariably happens to long titles, we shortened it to "Mousetrap."

This Month's Challenging Topic: Build a Better Grocery Store

Tribester Responses

After working in grocery stores for years I sort of avoid them like I would drinking sewer water, the main reason is the lines and mass chaos. So to reduce the lines I say just tag all items with a sensor that allows me to drop whatever I want into my cart. When I'm done shopping and I want to leave I can just push the cart through the exit while the store's infrastructure scans all items in my cart, applies any coupons available and then automatically bills my credit or debit card I have on file.

I can then proceed to my car and place my items in reusable bags I have stored there to carry them in my house thus eliminating the use of plastic and paper bags and the need to wait in massive lines.
-- Tony Passero

How about providing computer terminals at the store to access and print out a saved online grocery list. The printout could contain the aisle where the items is located, recommend items that are on sale and provide instant coupons. Recipes could also be provided along with suggested companion items (for instance buns and mustard for hot dogs). A shopper would not need to worry about bringing their list if they stop off after work or go to a store in a different location. Add a mobile accessible option as well though that would negate some of the print out functionality.
-- Joe Kaput

My frustration with grocery stores usually stems from the relationship between aisle width and cart width. Too many times in too many grocery stores it seems that there are bottle neck spots where two carts cannot pass without one being jammed up against (or into) the adjacent shelf or stack of produce. I think that with proper aisle to cart width relationships, grocery stores would be a much safer and enjoyable places.
-- Andy Owens

Save the lines, shop online! Home delivery? Yes, please. One could make the argument that it would be a lot of resources to deliver food to people's houses every day, but I think that one trip that can cover many homes is greatly more efficient than each of those persons driving independently to the grocery store. Peapod already has this service, from what I understand. Lets see how much further we can take it.
-- Charles Koers

I would have IDOT paint road stripes down all the aisles, create one-way aisles, passing lanes, stop signs, etc. I figure, grocery stores already have kid carts that resemble automobiles why not take it to the next level.
-- Mike Chorvat

I think grocery stores should employ personal chefs. Instead of going to the grocery store to shop for items to make a recipe, you drop off your recipes for the week and they make them for you. This would save a lot of time and you wouldn't have to wonder what to do with that other half of eggplant sitting in the refrigerator.
-- Carrie Pendergast

Check back soon for my answer!
-- Shannon Kemp