Meijer Spreads Holiday Cheer to Unsuspecting Customers Through Gifting Event

Meijer made Christmas very merry this year when it once again surprised an unsuspecting customer in each of its 230 stores by "gifting" them their entire shopping cart filled with gifts and groceries upon checkout.

During the third annual Very Merry Meijer event, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer randomly selected 230 customers on Dec. 10 to receive their purchases free, and gave a $100 Meijer gift card to the Meijer cashier helping the customer.

In addition, each surprised customer received an additional $100 Meijer gift card to help pass along the generosity.

"Christmas is a time for kindness and joy, and we were so excited to bring back the Very Merry Meijer event once again to share the spirit of the season with those we hold dear: our customers and team members," says Hank Meijer, executive chairman. "We are very appreciative of our customers and team members, and wanted to find a special way to wish them a very Merry Christmas."

The Very Merry Meijer event resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in gifts to Meijer customers—with shopping carts ranging from $400 to upwards of more than $1,000 in value—along with a mixture of emotions that spurred tears, hugs and even speechlessness from very happy customers. For some, the surprise renewed hope in the true meaning of the season; others appreciated the generosity during a time that can be quite stressful.

Meijer released a video that showcases how the retailer surprised its customers. In most cases, the store director revealed the gift upon checkout, but Hank Meijer, Board Director Doug Meijer, and Meijer president and CEO Rick Keyes also helped spread holiday cheer.

"We strive all year long to put our customers first, and provide them with a great shopping experience through the quality products we sell, the service we provide and the many ways we offer savings," Keyes says. "The Very Merry Meijer event was an extra special way to show our appreciation and make the season bright. That is what the holidays are all about."

The impact of this year's Very Merry Meijer event was far reaching as those customers received a second gift from the retailer—a $100 Meijer gift card—to pay it forward to a charitable organization, or a family or individual in need. Meijer is encouraging those customers to share their pay-it-forward photos and videos on its Facebook page with the hashtag #VeryMerryMeijer for a chance for their charity to receive a $5,000 donation.

"The Very Merry Meijer event began as a simple way to say thank you, but it has grown into so much more because of our thoughtful customers," Doug Meijer says. "This is truly an event I look forward to all year long because it gives us a chance to show our customers and team members just how much they mean to us."