New Whole Foods 365 Stores May Contain Tattoo Parlors
Posted on February 15, 2016
Whole Foods has a chain of stores it has been developed called 365 by Whole Foods. The first three 365 stores will be opening this year in California, Oregon and Washington.
One of the interesting concepts with the new store model is that they will let other businesses operate inside them. Whole Foods calls these independent businesses "Friends of 365." Whole Foods says they are "independent businesses who bring their special mojo to our 365 stores." The 365 website even lists tattoo parlors as a possibility. It says, "Friends of 365 may be any type of business - from food and drinks to fashion, body care products, services, and more. (Record shop? Tattoo parlor? Maybe!)."
The store-within-a-store concept is not new but having a tattoo parlor inside a grocery store certainly would be. Bloomberg reports that the smaller 365 storefront will help Whole Foods compete with stores like Trader Joe's and Sprouts.
Whole Foods CEO Walter Robb told Bloomberg, "There's a number of smaller-store competitors out there that are doing a nice job. We don't see any reason why we can't go participate in that part of the market as well with our 365 by Whole Foods offer -- it's going to be unique." He also says the 365 stores will help the company "reach more communities than we would be able to with our mother ship."
It will be interesting to see what Friends of 365 show up in the new locations. It will also be interesting to see how the business model works. Would Whole Foods take a flat fee from the tattoo parlor or a percentage of sales or both? The first store will open in Los Angeles this May. Whole Foods says they are looking for "friends" so any talented tattoo artists that want to operate inside a grocery store should give them a call.