Fuel & Car Wash
For years gasoline was a relatively quiet category that offered a basic choice of unleaded fuels and diesel. Over the last decade boutique fuels, ethanol and biodiesel blends have burst onto the fuel marketing scene giving convenience store owners a variety of choices to offer customers. C-store owners need to make informed decisions when dealing with these fuels because each fuel blend requires its own set of standards that affects everything from underground storage tanks, fuel dispensers and related equipment, fuel pricing and environmental control issues. Plus, as fuel consumption in the U.S. has increased, and convenience store operators have attracted more fuel customers, they are faced with selecting a fuel brand to partner with or developing a proprietary fuel brand that capitalizes on the strength of their existing c-store brand.
On the car wash side, developing new profit centers is an ongoing battle for convenience store retailers. Car wash sales have increased steadily across the industry as retailers focus on providing an affordable. Car wash trends include environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, water reclamation and energy-efficient dryers.
Cash Isn’t King at Cleveland Car Washes
American Pride has switched from cash-based operations to tokens, and customers are coming back stronger than ever. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Brian Costa operates five American Pride car washes in the Cleveland area. All told, there are 29 self-service bays and six touchless automatics. Until early 2000 each location was quarter-based. Then, when the [...]
AAA Fuel Gauge Report Shows Gas Price Volatility
Prices at the pump climb in Massachusetts and Hawaii, but drivers in Michigan and Chicago see minor relief over last week’s prices. The national average for gasoline sits at $3.93 per gallon as of April 8, with some states seeing small dips in price this week and others facing price climbs, according to AAA’s Fuel [...]
Car Wash Upgrades on Deck for 2012
Convenience store and petroleum retailers with car washes have faced a challenging 3-4 years in the car wash industry, and as a result have mostly refrained from new development of car wash sites. “We know from our equipment sales reports that there have been low levels of investment, particularly at petroleum c-store car wash sites,” [...]
Negotiating for the Best Cost of Goods
Convenience store owners need to work more closely with suppliers and wholesalers to get better supply contracts and offer consumers more competitive prices. Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. Convenience store owners need to work more closely with suppliers and wholesalers to get better supply contracts and offer consumers more competitive prices. A plaque in Ray Johnson’s [...]
Effectively Managing the Fuel Market
As gasoline prices trend upward, retailers are struggling to stay competitive on price while protecting their margin. By John Lofstock, Editor. The cost of fuel has been roaring up and down like a rollercoaster, and so has the risk to retailers when purchasing fuel in large quantities. Fortunes can be made by accurately predicting which [...]
Instant Rewards for Fuel Customers
With gas prices again on the rise, consumers are pumped about loyalty programs that offer discounts on gasoline. By Pat Pape, Contributing Editor. Today’s competitive retailing environment makes it tough to attract and keep customers, so convenience stores are turning to loyalty programs that allow the faithful to earn points as they shop and redeem [...]
Martin Eagle Oil’s Fuel Management System Saves The Day
After someone tampers with a gas pump, the SIMMONS ClearView system alerts Martin Eagle Oil to the problem in time to avoid a huge loss of fuel inventory. Denton, Texas-based Martin Eagle Oil saved thousands of dollars in potential fuel loss this month all because it had the foresight to install the SIMMONS ClearView continuous [...]
Ryko Prevails in Legal Dispute
“This case was important in assuring that our rights were identified and protected, especially as it relates to the enforceability of our distributor contracts,” says Ryko CEO. Ryko Manufacturing Co. Inc., a North American manufacturer of car wash equipment and a provider of service support and chemicals to the industry, has prevailed in its legal [...]
Valero Acquires Two Fuel Terminals
The ownership and operation of these facilities is expected to allow Valero to grow its wholesale marketing presence in eastern Kentucky. Valero Terminalling and Distribution Co., a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corp., has successfully completed the acquisition of Chevron USA Inc.’s Louisville and Lexington, Ky. product terminals for an undisclosed amount, company officials announced. Valero [...]
Developing a Fuel Strategy Amid Soaring Costs
High gas prices mean more headaches for retailers. Experts weigh in on the best ways to survive the market volatility. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. With gas prices skyrocketing, retailers are feeling the squeeze from every angle. But there are unique opportunities for savvy retailers to reduce fuel expenditures, which will afford them a better [...]
Grow Your Car Wash Business
Learn how to attract more customers and increase frequency visits to your car wash. Reserve a seat for the 2011 ICA Car Care World Expo Educational Seminar, “3 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2011,” before April 29, and be entered for a chance to win a $5000 coupon towards the purchase of an Xtreme [...]
Is $4 Gallon Gasoline Coming to a Station Near You?
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN For some, the unpleasant reality of $4 gallon gasoline has already occurred, namely in California, where the Energy Information Administration reported in early April an average price for regular grade gasoline at $4.057 gallon. As of April 4, the EIA pegged the average for Chicago at [...]
Thorntons Offers Fuel Deal For Debit Users
Customers can now save five cents per gallon with debit card and PIN. Thorntons has launched a new fuel savings program in Lexington, Ky., where customers can instantly save five cents per gallon at the fuel pump. This new program began on Tuesday, March 15 at all 10 Lexington area Thorntons locations. Customers save five [...]
Mace Security Sells Texas Car Wash
“We are pleased to announce this sale in our continued progress in exiting the car wash business,” says Mace CEO. Horsham, Pa.-based Mace Security International Inc. has sold a full-service car wash facility and convenience store located in Lubbock, Texas. With the sale of its Lubbock location, the corporation currently has two remaining car washes [...]
Fuel Prices Spur Uptick In Consumer Complaints
As gas prices increase, customers are paying more attention to the price at the pump and are quick to report concerns, the National Conference on Weights and Measures reports. As fuel prices rise, so do the number of consumer complaints at the gas pump, according to a recent survey of state weights and measures, where [...]
