Ryko is also helping customers drive wash counts with a new Clean Touch brand retail car wash merchandising campaign. Ryko Solutions Inc., a North American manufacturer of car wash equipment and a provider of chemical, managed maintenance and marketing services to help customers build a more profitable car wash, has been awarded a distributorship to…
A Gift for All Seasons
The prepaid market is booming as retailers begin to capitalize on seasonal opportunities and serving the underbanked. By John Lofstock, Editor. The gift card market is rosy and analysts are poised for another strong year in 2012. In 2011, 80% of consumers planned on buying gift cards for the holiday season, up from 2010, and…
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…
Big Apple Plants the Seeds for New Growth
After rebranding a number of its locations under the CITGO brand, Big Apple Food Stores looks to expand its retail portfolio in 2012. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor C.N. Brown’s Big Apple Food Stores has had a busy 12 months. The 82-store chain with locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, completed an aggressive push…
Thorntons To Sell $1 Pink Ribbons In October
All proceeds from ribbon sales to go to the Fight Against Breast Cancer. As part of Thorntons commitment to Breast Cancer Awareness, during the month of October, all Thorntons store locations will sell pink ribbons for $1; with 100% of the proceeds going towards the fight against Breast Cancer. Another way customers can help Thorntons…
Rutter’s Announces Latest Sweepstakes Winners
Customers who used their Rutter’s Rewards card in August had the chance to win prizes including a free month of gas and a flat-screen TV. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores added a little sunshine to the rainy end of summer in central Pennsylvania this week by announcing the latest set of winners in the Register,…
What Wal-Mart’s New C-Stores Mean for the Industry
By Lance Winslow It appears that Wal-Mart plans on setting up hundreds of convenience stores in the near future, and many of these will be completed before 2012. Why is Wal-Mart getting into the c-store business, you wonder? Well, consider if you will that at many of its superstores the company also sells fuel, and…
Investing in Tomorrow
Building a convenience store requires a great deal of planning. Operators are urged to examine all of their options before making their next big investment. By: Jim Callahan Thinking of building a new store? Well, I’ve got some thoughts and opinions to help you focus on making a wise investment. In these trying times few…
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…
Interface With KickBack Rewards Systems
Intelio Technologies Inc., a provider of self-service marketing, has developed an interface to allow the leading brands of car wash entry systems to interface with KickBack Rewards. The new interface allows car wash operators who utilize the Unitec Wash Select II or Ryko AMTT, Ryko AMTT CS and Intelio Activa entry systems to interface with…