Kirk DeSarmia
Appearances
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
So I started a Facebook page called Bring Trader Joe's to Alaska. This was in 2012. I thought, man, these guys, maybe they just don't know what they're missing yet.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
And if I can create this Facebook page and I can get people around the state to start liking it and sending Trader Joe's an email to say, hey, we would really love to see your store here, then maybe Trader Joe's will actually listen to us.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
So, after one of his out-of-town Trader Joe's shopping binges... When I come home with a suitcase full, I like to throw it on the kitchen table and take a picture of it and put it out there, hopefully to motivate people to send that email to Trader Joe's and let them know we're out here. His Facebook page got some traction, about 1,200 likes.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
I would say most of my friends in Seward are aware that this is something that I would like to see happen.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
No. Some of my friends might say I'm fairly politically active, but, you know, I honestly can't think of any other store that I might think to start a page to bring up here.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
Every time I go to a Trader Joe's in the lower 48, they always look sideways at me when I'm getting $200 to $300 worth of goods. But I tell them, you know, it's because we live in Alaska and we can't get you guys to come up here.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
Since I started this page in 2012 and they've never responded to a single email, it seems a little unlikely, but hopefully they're going to listen to this interview and then my percentage will go up.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
The first thing I do when I know I'm going somewhere is get on the internet and find where the closest Trader Joe's is.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
We'll also talk to a Trader Joe's super fan. My name is Kirk DeSarmia. I reside in Seward, Alaska.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
The first thing I do when I know I'm going somewhere is get on the Internet and find where the closest Trader Joe's is.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
Whenever I leave the state, I usually buy a couple hundred dollars worth of goods, and I have an extra suitcase or duffel bag with me in my luggage. DeSermia and his duffel bag have been all over. I've been... I know to some in Portland, Oregon, Reno, Nevada, all over Southern California, there's a number of them.
Freakonomics Radio
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Update)
My wife is from Kentucky, and so we've been to, they have one in Louisville now, as well as Indianapolis. I go to DC about once a year for work, and I love to go to the Trader Joe's in Georgetown.