Despite record sales and a growing number of stores that serve as destinations for millions and millions of American consumers everyday, other retail segments continue to take cheap shots at convenience store owners and operators. Need proof? Did you happen to catch the NapaAuto Parts commercial during the Major LeagueBaseball playoffs? “Experience,” the announcer says,“that’s [...]
With the granddaddy of all c-store trade shows taking place this month, CSD takes a look at some quick statistics for the event. ≈ $1.1 Billion: The estimated amount retailers will be spendingon products, many of which will be on display at the show. ≈ 79: The percentage of attendees who plan to buy one [...]
Approximately 79% ofall attendees plan to buy one or more ofthe products or services they discovered atthe NACS Show last year. Follow-up researchindicates that actual purchases six to ninemonths after the event are even higher thanwhat was planned. The show hours are: Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 12 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 from 12 p.m.-5:30 [...]
Specialty and imported tobacco brands offer retailers an opportunity to cultivate a promising profit center. Retailers looking to develop an effective strategy forboosting sales would be wise to examine specialty andimported tobacco brands. Specialty tobacco shops havealready come to realize that brands like Djarum are attractinga new base of consumers that expect quality and value. [...]
Living Essentials’ 5-Hour Energy is helping retailers capitalize on consumers’ needs for a timely energy boost. After surveying the flood of energydrinks introduced over the pastfew years, Living Essentials noticeda weakness in the category. Themajority of drinks continued to grow in packagesize and contained too much sugarand herbal stimulants. To fill the void of people [...]
Zotes is transforming the seed category with innovative marketing and unique packaging. It has been an unexpected and exciting last two years for ZotesSunflower Co., as the seeds steadily climbed to its current numberone spot in the category touting convenient packaging andunique flavors. While other seeds in the category are packaged in bags anddisplayed on [...]
Unlike many retailers profiled in Rising Stars, Kurt Straube always knew he would have a career in the convenience industry. Kurt StraubeDari Mart Stores His grandparents purchased afarm in Junction City, Ore., back in 1940, which grewinto Lochmead Dairy, a milk processing plant, and Dari MartStores in 1965. Three generations of his family have been [...]
Research by Mars Snackfood U.S. shows retailers can attract a broader base of consumers with an emphasis on new and premium products. The female customer today makes approximately 85% of allconsumer purchases, so it’s no wonder that convenience storeowners are among the many retailers eager to cater to thisemerging customer base. Traditionally focused on male [...]
Searching for higher and better uses for units that are terminally ill. At the time of this writing, thelong, hot summer of 2007 is finallywinding down and the prospectof a cooler football-inspiredautumn is rapidly taking shape. Duringthis time, my company has been workingon several marketer divestitures that havecommonality in the need to determine anon-traditional future [...]
Developing your own coupon book can drive consumer loyalty and cultivate a new customer base. Growing up in Michigan, Iwas a part of a very prestigioushigh school baseball teamthePlymouth Canton Chiefs. Year inand year out, our team was highly rankedand continually vied for the state championship.Playing on this team was a signof prestige at the [...]
Generation Image Renewal program calls for the renovation of the chain’s 1,600 convenience stores and the addition of 550 more. Cenex, the convenience-retailing brand of CHS Inc., islaunching a multimillion-dollar rebranding and expansioneffort that will elevate the chain’s visibility in smalland major markets and enhance its overall competitiveviability. As part of its “Generation Image Renewal,” [...]
Shell announced that it is removing the multi-site operation model from the U.S. going forward. What does this mean to the company and Big Oil as a whole? Shell Oil Products turned headslast month when the oil giantannounced it would be disassemblingits multi-site operator (MSO)partnerships across the country to continueits strategy of putting the stake [...]
Front counter space is limited, but with some smart merchandising and eye-catching new products, it can provide high margins for retailers. The convenience store front counter provides the perfectcanvas to showcase a mix of hot new items and profitableimpulse buys that will grab customers’ attention. But expertsagree that this area is among the most underutilized [...]
Retailers that are willing to settle for second best, get second best. By Mel Kleiman I was on the phone recently withthe owner of a chain of Midwesternconvenience stores who said, “It justdoesn’t make any sense for us to eventhink about using pre-employment testingor making our jobs tough to get. We’ve gotto take whatever walks [...]
With an increase in smoking restrictions and the threat of increased taxes, retailers and analysts express serious concerns for cigarette profitability. Convenience stores, backin the good old days beforethey offered the types foodserviceand products thatcould rival other retail segments, wereknown mostly for three things: Cokes,smokes and gas. But despite the industry’sonce-strong foothold, cigarette salesare slumping. [...]