THUNDER BAY – It is a combination of technology merged with customer service. Thunder Bay’s Quality Market is launching their new online store on Monday. For people here in Thunder Bay, it offers the ability to place your grocery order online, and pick up or have your order delivered to your door. As well, for people across Northern Ontario, Quality Market’s new online store lets people from remote communities in the North order their groceries at Thunder Bay prices plus a small service fee.
David Stezenko from Quality Market says that new innovation was in the planning stages but was accelerated after a meeting with Nishnawbe-Aski Grand Chief Stan Beardy. The 70 page online grocery listing on the website started the company into online shopping. However the new site is easy to use, and very sensibly laid out. You choose the category you want, dairy, fruits, vegetables, poultry, bakery, deli, and grocery and you see pictures of all the items available.
Quality Market, through the Ministry of Aboriginal and Northern Development applied to be a southern supplier under the Nutrition North Canada Subsidy Program for remote First Nations. That allows shipments to people in the north, in First Nations communities to get a better selection of items at more affordable prices.
However don’t think for a moment that this online store is only for distance customers.
It can serve very well as a place for busy people in Thunder Bay to save time and do their shopping. The beauty, David shares of this system can be for busy families across Thunder Bay. The online store saves your last shopping cart, and also keeps a list of the preferred items that you regularily purchase.
A frequent shopper can likely finish their grocery shopping online in about three to five minutes. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours ahead of when they will be picked up or delivered. You can choose the day and time you want the order delivered or schedule picked up.
Shortly after your order is placed online, you will receive a confirmation email. As your order is ready for delivery, Quality Market will call you to let you know it is on the way.
Payment in the store is by cash, debit or credit card. For delivery there is debit at the door.
Think of it this way, if you place your order online, and pick it up, you save all the time, and hassle of shopping. For families with young children the $6.99 fee to have your grocery shopping done for you is almost priceless. Even if your trip to the grocery store takes you an hour, the fee is a small price to pay for more time with your family or doing something you like more than shopping for groceries.
Something that David didn’t realize at first was that the delivery service actually can serve to save many customers money too.
How so? David shared how a customer on a fixed income with a disability takes a taxi cab to the store and back to shop. The cost was $10 each way. The $12.99 delivery fee in the city saves money for that person.
In the video, David walks Marie Mishenene through the shopping process. Marie stated after trying the system that it is easy and quick. Her comment was she would enjoy the service.
[youtube:oEMiKrlKL2A]
NetNewsledger.com would like to thank Nathan Ogden for video and editing and Marie Mishenene for helping in the video.