Over 150 Trader Joe's visits have revealed 3 keys to the store's success.

Julie Averbach has been visiting as many Trader Joe's supermarkets as possible for the better part of the last four years.

While researching her book "The Art of Trader Joe's," a Yale art history grad has visited over 150 locations in 20 states.

"She would always visit Trader Joe's when traveling to a new area to see a friend."

Averbach claims that visiting hundreds of supermarkets has been anything but tedious.

"Trader Joe's stores are all unique, with personalized artwork that reflects the local community and fosters a sense of local pride and identity, which is a distinctive characteristic for a grocery retailer."

Averbach, who has spent hundreds of hours in Trader Joe's stores, has observed the things that have made it a fan favorite. She discussed three things with CNBC Make It that have helped Trader Joe's build its loyal following.

Embracing private label products

Trader Joe's sells mostly private label products, with over 80% of their offerings being unique, eye-catching packaging. Unlike other supermarkets, their non-brand-name products are prominently displayed.

""Trader Joe's private label products are affordable luxuries, dispelling the notion that settling for a private label means sacrificing quality or paying a lower price than the name brand option," Averbach remarks."

The packaging, art, and design are crucial in transforming private label products into high-quality and appealing options for customers.

Among Trader Joe's best-selling items are their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets, and Unexpected Cheddar.

Trader Joe's turns shopping into an experience

Despite their individuality, Averbach notes that all Trader Joe's stores share common design elements.

"As soon as you enter the store, you are greeted by the sweet scent of fresh flowers. The upbeat music playing on the speakers sets a lively atmosphere. You will be amazed by the colorful and eye-catching products displayed on the shelves, along with vibrant artwork and signs. Many stores also offer sampling counters where you can taste various products."

These decisions not only help sell groceries but also create the most joyful experience possible for the customer.

Trader Joe's motivates customers to explore and discover new products by transforming each store into a unique and intriguing shopping experience.

"Averbach suggests that by slowing down and savoring the shopping experience at Trader Joe's, customers are more likely to discover and purchase items that were not initially on their shopping list."

Encouraging exploration with exciting packaging

Trader Joe's knows how to get customers excited about its products.

At Trader Joe's, a box of chocolate cookies is not just a box of chocolate cookies; it is marketed as "Astounding Multi-Flavor Joe Joe's" and packaged in a distinctive hexagonal box that makes the cookies appear as if they are the stars of a circus act.

Rewritten sentence: The product is so amazing that you'll definitely want to try it and share it with others.

She claims that Trader Joe's excels at packaging products to make them appear like unique and giftable items.

Trader Joe's doesn't put foreign flavors in the international aisle; instead, it showcases them as products to try.

In her book, she discusses how the chain's "worldly product packaging" fulfills a desire to travel without leaving home.

""Trader Joe's is like an international aisle, where shoppers are more likely to discover new products they didn't plan on buying," she says."

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