Ultimate Online Resource Guide for C-Store Owners
As a c-store owner, it’s crucial to continually build your business, but it can be hard to find the time or figure out where to start. However, many independent business owners are unsure of the opportunities of internet resources, which wait just a few easy taps away. To help c-store owners make use of the […]
Competing With Every Retailer… Not Just Your Neighbors
Do You Know Who Uses SNAP/EBT?
As experts on the government safety net program, SNAP (also known as food stamps), it’s important to us that retailers considering or currently participating in the program are aware of the facts that surround the way benefits are issued and eventually spent in their store. While most store owners understand how valuable being a SNAP […]
Product Spotlight: Sparkling Water
Consumers continue to want a healthier, greener, and more organic lifestyle, so their switching up everything from their cars to the water they drink. Consumers still enjoy the bubbly fizz soda offers, but desire the health benefits of water. That’s why we’ve seen a spike in sales for sparkling water. Over the last five years, […]
Making the Most of Halloween in Your C-Store
UPDATE: This year, Halloween spending is expected to reach $9 billion. This number is second in 14 years only to last year’s record of $9.1 billion. While $6.3 billion is expected to be spent on costumes, decorations, and greeting cards, there is still $2.6 billion dollars left to be spent on candy. If you’re looking for […]
Make Fresh a Priority Without a Challenge
Fresh foods are one of the fastest growing trends in retail and grocery. As supermarkets have adapted to consumers’ evolving eating habits by offering more organic and healthier products, convenience stores have also started to make the change. Aside from healthier foods, they want fresh food, food that is prepared just before they purchase it. […]
Merchant Question: “Can I sell energy drinks?”
Question: “Can I sell energy drinks?” -Ranny Gammo, Peck Market
Cash-to-Digital Technology: Bridging the Gap for C-Store Consumers
Although technology has changed shopping to a mostly seamless digital experience for most of us, life is still not as convenient for all consumers. Especially consumers who are primarily low income, unbanked, or underbanked and left without access to online shopping or to debit cards. These also happen to be the consumers that visit c-stores […]
Some of Your Smallest, But Most Important C-Store Products
Customers stop at convenience stores to get a variety of things: gas, food, coffee, soda, tobacco products, but have you ever thought about what products make your c-store so valuable? People don’t go to convenience stores to shop around like they would at a grocery store. They go in looking for a specific product. Often […]
2017 Regional C-Store Trend Update
We’ve written posts before about the importance of making sure that your store is ready to serve the specific customers in your area. To do this, you should not only understand the interests of your customers, but also the challenges to seeing success at your store’s location. While you can look at the trends in […]
The Latest Technology Large C-Stores are Using
Technology is constantly evolving and consumers’ shopping behaviors are changing with it. The advances in technology have made people want things even quicker, appreciate environmentally friendly options more, and above all demand more convenience. For businesses, that means evolving retail models in an attempt to keep up with the quickly changing demands of customers. Especially […]
Back to School C-Store Prep: Tips for Maximizing Business During the Rush
While there are mixed emotions about going back to school, one thing is for sure, it means great business for you. Students are heading back to college, parents are back to school shopping, and your c-store should be preparing more than you think. This is especially true for c-stores that are in family neighborhoods and/or […]
Why Amazon Isn’t Exactly a Threat to C-Stores…YET!
Since the early 2000s, Amazon has been disrupting and challenging businesses in most consumer product and service industries. The ecommerce giant has single-handedly transformed the way that consumers choose to spend their money, find the products they want, and get the products to their homes. For some time, the businesses that have traditionally been able […]
5 Ways to Compete with Larger C-Store Chains
Large c-store chains are expanding and with big box stores like Walmart have recently expanded into the convenience store industry , the competition is getting even more intense. To keep attracting customers and driving profits for your store, you will have to do things differently to compete. As a small c-store owner, you may be […]
Why Now is the Time to Invest in Food Service
Competition is heating up and not just among convenience stores, but with all retailers. Customers’ demands have changed and providing access to quality products as quickly as possible is top priority. People are strapped for time and they appreciate the convenience of getting things they actually want and need easily, especially meals. Amazon’s revenue may […]
C-Store Trips are Down. Now What?
We’ve talked about the changes in the way c-store customers shop quite a few times. What you may not be aware of is the fact that in the past four years, overall consumer trips to any retail location have steadily declined. Even during the holiday quarters, trips are down three trips per household. While overall, […]
The Reality of Having a Store That Isn’t Clean
While at first glance your store may appear clean, it may not be what your customers see. No matter the business, customers want to buy their products from a clean store. An unclean store goes beyond the physical appearance, it is the small things that matter too; such as the smell, under-stocked shelves, or poor […]
Make the Best Selling Items Easier to Find
Make the best selling items easier to find
2018 Summer C- Store Trends
Business Owners should pay close attention to the latest trends. If you can predict the emerging trends, you can determine what business decisions you should make for the upcoming year. Summer is starting, and the latest trends are coming with it. There will likely be frequent stops at convenience stores to stock up on snacks […]
How to Cater to International C-Store Customers
One of the best parts about operating a c-store is that they are universally recognized across the world as a place to pick up quick essentials. Chances are international customers shop at your convenience store or small grocery store every day. You might wonder how you can best serve them, and we’re here to help.
Make Speed a Priority, Keep C-Customers Happy
Make Speed A Priority, Keep C- Store Customers Happy
Lottery Innovations in 2018
The lottery has long been a staple of convenience stores across the nation. It appeals to a wide range of customers, and although it doesn’t offer the highest commissions for stores, it is a great traffic driver.
Up and Coming: C-Store and Small Grocery Trends to Watch in 2018
We’re less than a week away from the New Year of 2018 and now is a better time than ever to look into the future to start spotting the trends for the upcoming New Year. Once you have an idea of the trends to pay attention to, you can start planning ahead so you can […]
6 Must-Have Products to Surprise Your Customers in 2018
Most of the time, customers will know exactly what they want as soon as they enter your store. However, every day there are customers purchasing items simply because they see them on the shelf. Customers want certain things— they just don’t realize it yet. Here are our ideas for products you should consider offering in […]
Bottled Water: A C-Store Essential
The human body is made up approximately 60% water and water is one of the essential needs every person needs. While consumers can get water from their kitchen sink if they’re thirsty, they enjoy the convenience of buying a bottle of water when they’re out and about. Additionally, many swear that bottled water tastes better […]
The Value of Cultural and Ethnic C-Store Items
As c-store customers continue to show in increased interest in new flavor combinations (supported by the variety of savory salty snacks now available from major suppliers), the drive to offer a wider range of ethnic and culturally diverse products continues to grow. What makes an ethnic cuisine or beverage so appealing, and how can the […]
8 Must-Try C-Store Innovations for 2018
In many ways the C-Store industry leads the way for innovations for both retailers and quick serve restaurants. The latest innovative products for the c-store industry include those that make it easier than ever for customers to pay and get back on the road in a hurry. They also serve up in-demand flavors and specialties […]
C-Store Customers are Your Best Advertisements
If you’re like most other business owners, you’re always thinking of ways to bring more customers to your store and how to get them to spend more money. Of course, advertising is critical to accomplishing both of these goals. While investing the time, effort, and money in the usual advertising tactics like window signs or […]
Holiday Season: A Great Time to Gain New Customers
Every holiday season is a time for festivity and also signifies big opportunities for convenience store owners to garner some repeat business. This means attracting new customers, making sales, and building relationships to carry you through the rest of the year. The last two months of the year (November and December) are the most fruitful […]
6 Ways to Delight Your C-Store Customers
Many c-store owners focus on finding new customers, but maintaining the store’s current client base is just as important. Loyal customers generate a great deal of profit and encourage new customers to visit your store.
Tobacco Regulation: What’s Next?
The c-store industry has historically benefited a great deal from the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Despite the extremely harmful nature of the products, the profit that they bring is something most c-store owners refuse to pass up. However, the use of Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in […]
Mastering the Daypart: Lunch Time
C-stores are known for their roller hot dogs and heated pizza, but customers are looking for more when it comes to lunchtime. Now is the time to start thinking about broadening your lunch selection in order to get those extra mid-day profits. Here are some of the lunch items and trends you may not be aware of, […]
How to Succeed in Low-Income Areas
As a convenience store owner, it’s important to know who your primary customer is and how to best serve them. If your c-store, like so many others, is in an area where most of the consumers are low-income, serving your primary customer has some unique challenges. Serving a low-income demographic doesn’t have to mean your […]
Top 10 Small Details C-Store Shoppers Care About
1. Flat Pricing for Easy Checkout
Diversifying Your Salty Snack Category
Salty snacks are a c-store customer favorite. As shoppers come in to satisfy their salty cravings it is important to continually change-up currently stocked items and keep up-to-date on current savory trends.
Meet the Vegan C-Store Shopper
As new information on food is released, more and more people are changing their eating habits and adapting to a vegan lifestyle. Vegans have very strict dietary restrictions making them unable to have any animal products including items like milk, hot dogs, and eggs. This can be tricky for those with fast paced lives who often […]
Gen Z C-Store Consumers: What Do They Want?
The global Gen Z population, anyone born between 1995 and 2012, is set to reach 2.6 billion by 2020. This means that c-store owners need to adapt their businesses so they appeal to their youngest customer demographic. Owners should be adding and upgrading aspects of their c-stores now to ensure profits in the future.
Mastering the Daypart: Mornings
33 percent of consumers frequently eat breakfast away from home. This gives c-stores a huge opportunity to make profits in the morning by stocking and preparing their store with the items that early rising customers want.
The Value of Loyal C-Store Customers
Top 5 Foodservice Trends
The world of convenience is a fast-paced trend following industry where retailers need to stay up-to-date if they want to stay on top. Being a single-store makes some of the most popular trends hard to follow. Here are the top five foodservice trends and how your c-store can join in and make an impact.
Stocking Hygiene and Household Items
When owners are contemplating which items to stock in a c-store they often forget the everyday products that people use. These hygiene and household related items are important to carry because customers typically need them instead of wanting them. Although c-stores are not the usual place customers shop for these items, they sometimes have no […]
C-Store Trends from Around the World
Chicago and Japan are creating on-site grocery stores for condos and apartments downtown.
Fluctuating Gas Prices: Keeping Customers Happy
Throughout the year gas prices rise and fall affecting your customers shopping and fueling habits. It is important to know how to keep your customers happy no matter what the price is at the pump so that your profits stay consistent all year long.
Signage at the Pump
Most c-store owners understand that advancements in payment technology are causing fuel consumers to come into the c-store from the pump less and less. Because gas margins are so thin compared to those on items sold inside the c-store, this is a troubling trend for store owners. C-store owners can no longer simply rely on […]
Top Trends in C-Store Sandwiches: A Delicious and Convenient Choice
Moving beyond snacks and sodas, sandwiches are one of the more recent trends emerging in c-stores across the country. Customers are wanting quality meal options that are satisfying and quick to pick-up and go. Creating a fresh menu filled with variety will please customers and ensure that they will pick your c-store time and time again […]
Frozen Drinks: A Summer Favorite
July is almost over and temperatures are still high. If you haven’t already began offering frozen drinks to your consumers, it’s not too late to start. With more consumers shifting the way they think about food and beverage choices, there are plenty of frozen dispensed beverage trends to take advantage of. If you’re looking for […]
Packaging Matters: What Makes C-Store Customers Buy?
Many of the best convenience stores are filled with products of all kinds. These different products often come from several brands and in an assortment of varieties. For the c-store shopper, choosing the right product can be a challenge when standing among all their options. Because many convenience customers are often in a hurry, the […]
Are Gas-Powered Cars Going Away?
As more electric vehicles (EV) emerge, many are wondering if there is a future for gasoline powered automobiles. Looking at the overall progress of alternatively fueled cars can help us understand what is happening now and what will come in the future.
Top 6 Fourth of July C-Store Essentials
In 2016, it was estimated that almost $7 billion would be spent on food for the Fourth of July. Otherwise known as America’s Independence day, this holiday has become an annual time of relaxation and celebration with family and loved ones. With most spending the holiday eating, it is important that you are carrying the holiday […]
Pleasing the Traveling C-Store Customer
In 2016, it was predicted that 35 percent of Americans are planning to take a family vacation 50 miles or more away from home. With so many people traveling you need to make sure your store is appealing so that customers are more likely to stop in and make a purchase.
Thinking About Mobile Tech For Your C-Store??
By 2018 there will be more mobile devices than people on the planet. This means that mobile is one of the easiest ways to communicate and build relationships with your customers. A mobile application for your store will allow you to engage with them in their preferred method of communication, and explore a whole new way […]
School’s Almost Out: Time to Add New Products
C-store sales often get a summertime boost due to thirsty out-of-school kids. Take advantage of the 4.5% increase in sales by choosing items specifically for warmer months. Picking the right products and learning how to market towards children can make a huge splash in your Summer profits.
Grocery Delivery: Should You Worry?
Studies say that most people spend 53 hours a year at the grocery store. However, as technology has evolved and the consumer demand for more convenience has grown, more consumers are turning toward grocery delivery options. In fact, as of 2015 a quarter of global respondents were already ordering groceries online and having them delivered […]
Different Generations, Different Definitions of Healthy
In today’s food and retail industries, choices are seemingly endless and several trends are driving the way that consumers purchase and eat food. One trend, healthy eating, continues to be critical to the success of many food retailers and restaurants today. Over time, Americans have become more health conscious than ever and now they expect […]
Who Are the Most Frequent C-store Shoppers?
The convenience store is a staple in almost every neighborhood. Although these neighborhoods and the people who live in them are all different, some studies have shown that trends do exist across the convenience industry and the customers that frequent stores across the country. While your “regular” customers may frequent your c-store simply because they’re […]
The Top 7 Reasons Consumers Choose Another Store
There are over 155,000 c-stores in the Unites States alone. Competition is on every owner’s mind. Whether it is a new business opening down the street or a rival store that you’ve been competing with for years, understanding how customers think and why they might choose another store over you is the first step improving your c-store.