24/7: The NACS Blog

3/10/2010

NACS isn't the only one who tries to explain the challenges of the annual spring transition to summer-blend fuels. The blog "The Energy Source" also does a great job. It’s all a matter of understanding RVP, PSI, EPA and EIA. Really, it's that easy.

Posted at 2:00 PM by czuazua | Category: Gas Prices; Operations | Email this Post | Comments (0)

3/9/2010

Getting in the Groove

Many retailers are learning the value of tuning into their surroundings and taking new opportunities for sales in unexpected ways. Check out just a few instances of general merchandise category needs that c-stores can — and do — cover:

In the Washington, D.C., area, there was a clear and immediate need for retailers who sold snow shovels during the "snowpocalypse."
A retailer in Georgia watched the rise of disc golf near Tobesofkee Lake, and began selling Innova golf discs to cater to growing demand from visitors.
Convenience stores in Hawaii, San Francisco and Los Angeles often sell state souvenirs next to the usual in-store merchandise to increase sales from out-of-town visitors.

For more insights on the general merchandise category, read the February 2010 NACS Magazine Category Close-Up “Catching Up With the Catchall.”

Posted at 9:42 AM by czuazua | Category: Merchandising; Best Practices | Email this Post | Comments (0)

3/8/2010

Reform Brewing?

If you’re going to lead a revolution, what better cause to champion than beer? Pennsylvania state Senator John Rafferty has joined convenience stores in the fight to reform state beer laws by allowing stores to sell 6- and 12-packs in convenience and grocery stores. Sen. Rafferty’s bill would allow stores to sell six- and twelve packs in convenience and grocery stores, reforming the current law, which limits store beer sales to kegs and cases, while customers are forced to purchase smaller packages at bars or restaurants.

Convenience store operators have been working toward reform for almost three decades, and Sheetz has launched a "Free My Beer!" campaign.

Reform would increase the convenience factor of purchasing beer and reduce the purchase price for consumers, Rafferty said, adding, "It treats adults like adults and it protects the rights of beer drinkers."

Look for more on this issue in the upcoming April edition of NACS Magazine.

Posted at 10:04 AM by czuazua | Category: Government Relations; Leadership | Email this Post | Comments (0)

3/2/2010

And the Oscar Goes to...

The lights. The stars. The action. The convenience stores? The Oscars have a fond place in the hearts of film aficionados everywhere, but let’s give credit where credit is due: when it comes to a good locale, convenience stores have made their contribution to Hollywood. NACS talked to influential moviemaker Steve Pink (Grosse Pointe Blank) and comic legend Chris Rock, among others, to learn more about convenience stores’ supporting role in movies.

Read more in the July 2007 NACS Magazine cover story, "Real Life to Reel Life."

Posted at 3:32 PM by czuazua | Category: Entertainment; NACS Magazine | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/25/2010

Renewed Vows

What’s a “Wawaversary”? It’s Wawa’s latest event to thank customers in Palmyra, New Jersey for 25 years of patronage, which will be celebrated by a ceremony tomorrow at 10 am where the store will renew its commitment “vows” to the community. Regular customers will be recognized as “customers of honor” and they will be walked down an aisle in wedding fashion and given bouquets of coffee coupons. Senior employees will also be commended at the event.

In addition, Wawa will give back to the community by donating $119,000 to Bancroft, a non-profit organization serving developmentally disabled people.

Posted at 5:38 PM by czuazua | Category: Best Practices | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/22/2010

Lessons Learned

So, what can CEOs learn from their employees? When 7-Eleven CEO and President Joe DePinto went undercover for the CBS reality show Undercover Boss, he learned plenty...

Posing as “Danny,” an unemployed real estate professional looking at entry-level jobs (hey, they had to explain that camera crew!), DePinto had a busy week: he woke up at 4 a.m. for the morning shift at one of 7-Eleven’s busiest coffee selling stores; made fritters and donuts at the corporation’s largest baking facility; helped with the night shift and journeyed to Dallas, Texas, to make distribution runs.

It didn’t take long for DePinto to learn more about the experiences of 7-Eleven’s frontline employees. In a conversation with one of the night clerks, DePinto asked him if he saw room to advance at 7-Eleven professionally, to which the clerk answered, “You start as a sales associate, you have to be a sales associate for the rest of your life…there is not much room for you to grow.”

DePinto revealed his identity at the end of the week and recognized the dedicated employees he’d worked with: A baker who drew in his spare time was offered an opportunity to build his artistic portfolio; the night clerk who wanted to advance his career was offered a franchise consulting job; and a distribution truck driver was given his own franchise.

DePinto’s debrief to the 7-Eleven board included plans to enforce the charitable donations programs that were lagging for perishable food items, improve store maintenance response time and find ways to encourage employee advancement.

DePinto wrapped up his Undercover Boss experience with the following statement: “I thought I knew our stores, but the fact is, I have a lot more to learn, and you all taught me that.”

Posted at 2:03 PM by czuazua | Category: Best Practices; Leadership; Operations | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Lights! Camera! Convenience!

Convenience stores are constantly finding new ways to connect with their customers and communities, and Kwik Trip has done just this by becoming the latest c-store member on YouTube. The new channel includes featurettes emphasizing the convenience of choosing Kwik Trip or Kwik Star, instead of shopping at a grocery store, and highlights current specials on items such as subs, eggs and bread.

Kwik Trip isn’t the only c-store to market itself with different types of media — stores across the globe, such as 7-Eleven Japan, NIce N Easy Grocery Shoppes, ampm, and Wawa are also finding creative ways to engage customers via video on the Internet.

Check out the NACS YouTube channel for more videos about the convenience and petroleum retailing industry.

Posted at 9:14 AM by czuazua | Category: Best Practices; Merchandising; Operations | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/19/2010

Mobile Foodservice Unites!

Mobile foodservice vendors in Los Angeles, California, are looking to start a yummy tradition — and what better way than to host a gathering of food trucks for the masses? Such was the scene of the first annual “LA Street Food Fest” on South Beaudry Avenue where thousands gathered to enjoy the different flavors available.

Prominent LA food vendors included Flying Pig, Fishlips Sushi, Komodo, Frysmith and Coolhaus, and offerings ranged from eco-friendly hamburgers and architectural ice cream sandwiches to sushi rolls and vegan sausages.

Convenience retailers also are catching on to mobile foodservice.

Sheetz announces the locations of its mobile coffee truck via Twitter, and California’s vegan c-store Locali and Oklahoma’s Pop’s 66, featured in “Ideas 2 Go” in 2008, are also informing customers of their daily locations via Twitter. (You can check NACS out on Twitter too!)

Los Angeles isn’t the only city innovating in this category; this past November, NACS Magazine covered mobile foodservice trends throughout the United States.

Posted at 12:11 PM by czuazua | Category: Merchandising; Operations | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/18/2010

Giant Eagle Gets Well(ness)

Giant Eagle debuted a new health, beauty and wellness area this week with its own entrance and dedicated checkout register. Store officials want customers to view the area as a place that will meet all their health and beauty needs. The expansion is a direct response to consumer demand, Giant Eagle officials say. A recent National Grocers Association study found that customers gave supermarkets low points for a general lack of health food, health and beauty aids and vitamin choices.

The program is being tested in two other locations and if the test is a success, the chain might roll out the expanded areas in future locations and maybe a few current units.

Giant Eagle isn’t the only supermarket chain to expand its health and wellness section. Last month, Whole Foods Market unveiled its “Health Starts Here” program to market plant-based, high-nutrient products, in-store educational classes and data.

For more information on health and beauty category trends in c-stores, look for the March issue of NACS Magazine.

Posted at 9:43 AM by czuazua | Category: Merchandising | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/10/2010

Coffee for a Cause

RaceTrac, owner of more than 270 retail gasoline convenience stores, announced that from Feb. 8–10 it will donate all profits from coffee sales at all locations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts. All funds raised will be donated to The American Red Cross.

The families of more than 45 RaceTrac employees were directly affected by the earthquakes, bringing the tragedy home to RaceTrac’s Cobb County headquarters. That connection, coupled with the heart-wrenching reports and images of the destruction left behind by the 6.1 magnitude quake, convinced RaceTrac’s leadership to take action. Coffee is the company’s most purchased item, so it was decided to leverage the beverage’s popularity with consumers.

"We are deeply saddened by the devastation resulting from the earthquake in Haiti and feel a tremendous sense of urgency to respond to those in need," said Allison Moran, RaceTrac senior vice president. "This initiative is also an opportunity to show our Haitian-American employees how much we value and support them and the communities they serve. It is about being a good employer, a good neighbor and a good corporate citizen of the world."

Signage featuring the Haitian flag and a RaceTrac cup of coffee will be placed prominently throughout all stores to remind RaceTrac patrons of the opportunity to make a contribution RaceTrac anticipates raising more than $100,000 for Haitian relief.

For more information or to make a donation to the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org

Posted at 3:01 PM by cblasinsky | Category: Operations | Email this Post | Comments (0)

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