Since receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force in 1977, Dennis Wallis has spent most of his civilian career as an owner/operator of multiple convenience stores in the North Pacific region. Last month, Wallis, a former sergeant with the Aerospace Patrol Division at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Wash., and his wife, [...]
A new gas station in Wilton, Conn., is attracting customers with “fair and reasonable prices,” from its coffee bar to the gas pumps, the Wilton Bulletin reported. Trumbull, Conn.-based Friendly Service Station Inc., is the parent company of the new Citgo station and c-store on 386 Danbury Road. The store opened its doors on Dec. [...]
Though gas prices have dropped significantly from a year ago, forecourt-driven sales are still a challenge for many convenience stores because people aren’t buying gas as freely as they did several years ago. The reason? Our troubled economy makes it tough for many to afford the long car trips. Fewer trips mean fewer opportunities to [...]
Meat snacks—beef jerky, meat sticks, pork rinds and more—are right at home at U.S. convenience stores. And, despite the rough economy and some sales slippage, new products and popular brands continue to excite customers. Paul Lyons, president and owner of Up North Jerky in Troy, Mich., and a partner, with Sam Kassem and Mike Abdullah, [...]
The term “blessed” is trite but, in this case, true: My journey through the convenience store industry has seen me blessed with the friendships of so many special people. More than a few of them fit the mold reserved for greatness. I’d like to share some of the wonderful wisdom I’ve learned from them.
Not surprisingly, convenience store industry operators identified the future of tobacco as one of their top five concerns heading into 2010. And with good reason. Operators have entered a period of unprecedented challenges when it comes to selling cigarettes, which means they must find new and innovative ways to market and merchandise this essential product [...]