How to Define Your Community Impact

NACS resource offers a starting point for retailers to tell their stories about their business and community commitment.

March 16, 2015

ALEXANDRIA, VA – NACS has published a new primer defining 10 key areas of the convenience store business. “How Convenience Stores Operate and Their Contributions to Communities” provides a starting point for retailers who seek to define their businesses before community groups and addresses issues including jobs, property values, overnight hours, traffic and community engagement.

“During zoning hearings, opposition to convenience store permitting — whether for ground-up stores or remodels — often centers on general misperceptions about the value convenience stores deliver to the communities that they serve. This primer addresses these common concerns and helps retailers tell their stories about their commitment to their communities,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

The primer is the latest deliverable from the NACS reFresh initiative, which addresses ongoing industry perceptions by providing convenience retailers with tools to evolve their in-store offer and elevate their image. The reFresh initiative currently focuses on three distinct elements:

  1. Creating tools that address NIMBY (not in my backyard) issues by educating the public about the contributions convenience stores make to their communities
  2. Sharing facts and data that demonstrate the evolution of the industry and corrects an outdated reputation
  3. Forming partnerships/relationships with credible nutrition- and community-focused groups

The primer is the third in a series of tools developed to help retailers tell the industry’s positive story. “Building the Business Case for Produce Sales at Convenience Stores,” recently released by NACS and United Fresh, provides analysis of industry and consumer trends with practical ideas to develop an enhanced produce offering in stores.

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