A CSD Staff Report The consumption of bottled water is steadily increasing and it benefits convenience retailers to meet that demand. Not a bad problem to have as bottled water often retails between $1.19 and $1.39, and has a high gross margin. But because packaged beverage consumption is on the rise, the issue of moving…
on frozen pond
CSD and Wilsons Fuel Co. teamed up to participate in the World Pond Hockey Championships in Canada. Right: CSD Editor John Lofstock pushes the puck up the ice against the Boston Danglers. If you freeze it, they will come, and that was certainly the case for the CSD/Wilsons Fuel Ice Dawgs. Convenience Store Decisions‘ Editor…
thinking outside the safe box
Retail safes, or “smart safes” as they’re often referred, are quickly becoming a regular component of secure, successful stores. And with their increasing regularity in the industry comes expanded options and technology for retailers to take advantage. CSD gathered insight from four of the biggest cash management suppliers to discuss how their products can best…
ab imports a beer strategy
Beer sales are hot right now and driving the push are specialty brews and imports. In both cases, AnheuserBusch Cos. Inc. has a message for retailers: “We’ve got you covered.” In February, St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch became the exclusive U.S. importer of a number of InBev’s premium Europeanimport beer brands. As part of the deal, Anheuser-Busch…
designing a tank strategy
Thanks to emerging technology, fuel operators have many choices when installing or upgrading USTs. By William K. Morris, Contributing Editor Today’s UndergroUnd storage tank (Ust) installation is a far cry from those of the past. With the intricacies of environmental regulation, liability concerns and the high value of fuel, it is more important than ever…
raising the visibility of underground storage tanks
What every retailer should know when it comes to UST release detection. By Ryan Mossman, Contributing Editor Fines for leaking storage tanks are on the rise, data retention for storage tank compliance is getting longer, reporting frequencies are increasing and criteria for meeting compliance are growing. Whether you are the owner of a convenience store…
making the most at the car wash
Discounting and sacrificing fuel margins may not be the most effective way to build incremental sales. After more than 30 years inthe retail car wash business,Paul Vercollone qualifies as anexpert on the subject of selling car washes to the motoring public. Andwith his many years of experience,Vercollone has a message to those operators sacrificing fuel…
daypart dining
While lunch is a proven daypart for convenience stores, truly capturing customers means creating morning and dinner offers. Three retailers share their secrets to capturing dining dollars without cannibalizing existing lunch sales. FRIENDSHIP FOODS hasmade itself a food destination thanks to strong branded programs. Sixteen of the company’s 25 stores offer some form offoodservice, be…
elevating the customer experience
Innovation, commitment to service is the hallmark of the Parker business strategy. The Parker Cos. is a dynamicoperation with interests inreal estate, building retail centers and offices, the storagebusiness (Urban Attic), Spin Citylaundry, Parker’s Market UrbanGourmet and, of course, Parker’sConvenience Stores. The Savannah, Ga.-based company, which is also a BP andChevron jobber, is owned and…
the debate over minimum wage
IN JANUARY, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESvoted on something that had been set in stone for over adecade. They voted in overwhelming numbers toapprove an increase in the federal minimum wage—adecision that could not only affect millions of c-storeemployees, but also their employers as well. Cause for a RaiseThe past decade has been the longest stretch…