Chatting with strangers at a grocery store might seem strange — that was my initial experience, at least. Shouldn’t you just shop for what you need and leave?
But I was wrong. Here’s what I learned…
1. People spend a surprising amount of time grocery shopping.
Grocery stores are designed to keep customers inside as long as possible. Is that evil capitalism? Well… I won’t comment on that, but I’ve enjoyed more opportunities to strike up conversations than you think.
2. You have a natural topic to start conversations with: groceries 🙂
In this article, I will share easy, natural-sounding conversation starters that you can use to talk to strangers at a grocery store.
And to make this comprehensive, I also interviewed Amber Tucker — an editor friend who worked at a grocery store for three years — and my mum who’s a pro at chatting up other grocery shoppers. Let’s jump in!
(credit: Hailie Tattrie)
Share your observation about the grocery store
You can comment on almost anything related to the grocery store. Just observe the surroundings and say whatever comes to mind. Here are a few examples:
- “Woah, it’s so quiet today…”
- “Did they change their interior design?”
- “Took me ages to find parking!”
You don’t have to be funny or insightful. The goal is to simply say something that they can relate to and see if they respond.
If you find it too hard to be spontaneous, this article might help: Why do I rehearse conversations before they happen?
Comment about the weather
If the grocery store you’re at has windows — it’s not one of those glorified gaudy chicken coops — why not talk about the weather? Is it sunny? Rainy? Gloomy? Make a comment and see what they say.
I wrote about the surprising benefit of talking about mundane topics like the weather here, and Amber agreed:
“It may be just because I live in the Maritimes, but if you can see out any windows of the store, commenting on the weather is usually something that can get people chatting!”
Ask for directions
- “I’m looking for <grocery item>. Do you know where I can find it?”
- “Which aisle is <grocery item> at?”
Recommended question for “practice conversation”, since it doesn’t require the person to share anything personal about themselves.
Comment about the items on sale
To keep customers coming back, grocery stores usually have a variety of deals and discounts.
As many if not most people love a good deal, commenting on the cheap prices can spark a fun conversation. You could say something like…
- “Can you believe how cheap this is!?”
- “Wow, how do they even make money at this price…”
Ask for a grocery item recommendation
- “Which brand do you recommend for <grocery item>?”
- “What’s your favorite <grocery item> brand?”
Everyone has their go-to brand, and most people will be happy to share their opinions. This is especially helpful when you’re both shopping in the same aisle.
Another effective way to get their opinion is by asking about the product quality. I’d lead with this if I’m shopping for fresh produce like meat or veggies. And I’d simply say, “Huh, I wonder if this is fresh?”
Crowdsource recipes
If you see someone picking up an ingredient, this is an excellent conversation starter. Why? They will likely know a recipe or two for it, and even if they don’t, they will have suggestions on what you could do with the ingredient.
Here’s what Amber would say:
“Oh, I’ve noticed that cheese before but wasn’t sure what recipes I should use it in. Do you have any recommendations?”
Offer your own recommendation
As your fellow grocery shopper decides what to get or not, why not play the role of a free guide and share your wisdom? Most people appreciate help, and some people need it — I’m talking about the indecisive shopper (me!)
Here’s what Amber would say to customers:
“If I noticed someone browsing olive oils, “This is my favorite brand of olive oil – have you tried it?” or if they seemed really interested and not in a rush, I could share a bit of a story: “I used this olive oil with that bread for dipping at a party I hosted, and everyone said the flavor was incredible!” People seemed to appreciate it.”
Ask them about their groceries
Food is connected to our lives in so many ways, whether it’s our family or our lifestyle and habits. Here are a few possible things you could say:
- “Shopping for the week ahead?”
- “Wow, haven’t seen that before – what is it?”
- “That’s a lot of groceries!” (If you have a playful bent like me, you could even say, “Cooking for an entire village?”)
Other tips to make it easier to start a conversation
Talk to the leisure shopper.
There’s a special species of mankind that meanders around the grocery store, either because they enjoy grocery shopping so much… or they are so horrible at making choices *raises hand guiltily*
Talk to people when you’re in the waiting line.
This is a great time to strike up conversations, since they aren’t focused on finding and getting their groceries.
Talk to the cashier or in-store promoter.
Working as a cashier can be boring if not frustrating, given how repetitive the work is. Most cashiers I’ve met are willing to chat as a way to kill time, unless they’re too busy or tired.
Recommended article: 7 easy ways to start a conversation with a store clerk (or cashier)
Related articles
- 7 ways to start a conversation with a retail store owner (without being awkward) (if you’re at an owner-run grocery store)
- 116 fun food conversation Qs to ask your friends and family
- How to start a conversation with anyone