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Great Falls Shoppers Trading in Brand Names For Generic to Save Money

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Mar 17, 2010 at 4:45 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 17, 2010 at 4:48 PM MST

Many people change their shopping habits when money is tight and it looks like some high priced brands may be taking a hit as some shoppers are trading them in to save a few bucks.

Whether you are shopping for dinner at the grocery store or picking up some cold medicine, it seems like more and more people are looking for the best bang for their buck and that has many people turning to store brands.

Michelle West knows how to stretch her dollar. Besides cutting coupons, she is buying more generic brands to help trim her budget. West says, "It's the only way to go. It really is. It's no difference."

West is certainly not alone. The Walgreens on 10th Avenue South in Great Falls is seeing more and more people turning to store brands to get the most bang for their buck.

John Hanifen, the store manager says, "In the last 18 months or so, we've seen quite a significant increase in those products being sold. I think people are watching their money a little bit more. People are trying to cut back where they can."

West notes, "It doesn't surprise me a bit. Money's tight. I mean you've gotta save where you can."

Store brands are sometimes mirror images of their national brand counterparts and some shoppers say when there is no difference in quality, the savings can have a big effect on their bank account.

Many products have the same exact ingredients, the only difference is the brand name and the packaging, which will cost you some extra cash. Hanifen says, "A lot of instances, the name brand is also making our house brand, so you're paying for the name."

That's why Betsy Ethridge says she reaches for the generic brand when it comes to laundry detergent, paper towels and all her basic necessities. Ethridge says, "It doesn't surprise me. You know, times are tough, you gotta do what you gotta do."

And even when the economy bounces back, many shoppers may stick with the generic brand after seeing the savings right before their eyes. Hanifen notes, "If they like the generic item, they like the name brand item, it gives them the same satisfaction as the name brand, I don't see them switching back."

New research from the federal government shows that households are paying twice as much for brand name groceries, compared to generic or house brands. They say based on their findings, a family that switched to generic brands could save as much as $450 dollars a year.

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