Good riddance to 2020. It was the most challenging year for all of us personally and professionally. But as I’ve said so many times, the convenience store industry served as an example of the very best this country has to offer from Day 1 of the deadly coronavirus. In the face of this expanding pandemic,…
2021 Predictions About Convenience Retailing
What a bizarre time in which we find ourselves. Elon Musk is now the world’s wealthiest individual, Bitcoin quadrupled in value over the past 12 months, and politics, public health and the economy are rife with uncertainty. It’s easy to look around and wonder what exactly is going on. The past year forced individuals and…
Significant Tobacco Issues for 2021
With the New Year comes new challenges for retailers that sell tobacco products. Just like in 2020, key issues for retailers will encompass local, state and federal legislative and regulatory actions. Local Flavor Ban Ordinances In February 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made most flavored cartridge- and pod-type vaping products illegal. Then, in…
What Everyone Misunderstands About Checkout-Free Retail
I find it odd when checkout-free retail is said to represent a loss in customer service. In my opinion, the cash register was never an ideal setting for customer service in the first place. It’s the point in the journey when a person is finished shopping and ready to leave. The only reason it’s treated…
Strategic Business Considerations When Becoming a Sub-Jobber
For marketers planning a short to midterm business sale and industry exit, an improperly configured sub-jobber agreement could pose many costly challenges. We have addressed numerous sub-jobber agreements over the years and based upon this experience several common areas can be addressed in the formulation of an optimal agreement. The creation of sub-jobber agreements accelerated…
QuickChek Acquisition Indicates Foodservice Focus for Murphy USA
El Dorado, Ark.-based Murphy USA, which operates nearly 1,500 sites located primarily in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest U.S., announced that it will acquire Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based, family-owned QuickChek Corp., with 157 stores in central and northern New Jersey and the New York metro area, in an all-cash transaction for $645 million. The transaction is…
Why DashMart Should Be on Every Convenience Store’s Radar
As you probably know, DoorDash is slated to IPO at a mammoth $32 billion valuation. While much attention has been given to the fact that they’re still unprofitable in what might be considered the best possible environment for a delivery aggregator — and by their own admission expect revenue to decline in the future —…
Appreciating a Job Well Done
In this age of COVID-19, your employees are taking on an even greater role when it comes to serving your customers. The work the industry is doing has been nothing short of amazing in the midst of a global pandemic. Yet, a Gallup survey revealed that 65% of employees haven’t received recognition in the last…
Tech Trends Ahead for 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the rate of digital disruption. Many c-stores are finding opportunities in this changing landscape, ensuring that they are necessity stores in terms of their offering, and rolling out new services such as order ahead, delivery, pickup, contactless payment and more. I recently spoke with Daniel Burrus, global futurist, speaker and…
From Convenience to Destination Retail
By Brandon Lawrence, Fuel Consultant, and Frank Beard, Director of Safe Shop, Special Projects The marketplace is running out of room for generic retailers. Convenience is being redefined, and retailers face challenges from many directions. Whether it’s goPuff, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), dollar stores, direct-to-consumer tactics or disintermediation from third-party delivery partners, it’s never been easier…