New POS solutions from NCR Corp. help smaller business owners connect with customers and sell products from anywhere. The NCR Corp. released NCR Silver to give small businesses a hand at running businesses and connecting with customers. NCR Silver is available for download at www.ncrsilver.com or on the Apple App Store for $79 a month.…
I.C. Pit Stop Strikes Gold
I.C. Pit Stop, a c-store in eastern Iowa, makes profits buying gold from local consumers. The I.C. Pit Stop has bought gold for just over a year now, and so far, the business has been a success. Mark Paterno, owner of the c-store, said he gets a customer willing to sell gold products almost every…
Leveling The RYO Playing Field
In recent years, roll-your-own tobacco machines have surfaced at various retail locations putting convenience stores at a competitive disadvantage on price. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor America, and in particular its lawmakers, remains caught in a love-hate relationship with tobacco. That push-pull has resulted in very well-publicized attempts to dissuade Americans from using tobacco, or…
Sunoco Acquired By Energy Transfer Partners
As part of the acquisition agreement, ETP is to own Sunoco’s branded retail business, which includes approximately 4,900 retail locations in the U.S. Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) has acquired Sunoco Inc. The two companies today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby ETP will acquire Sunoco in a unit and…
Parker’s Adds PriceAdvantage
Retailer finds new way to manage fuel pricing process. Parker’s Convenience Stores has successfully completed its rollout of PriceAdvantage Enterprise. This innovative software offering from Skyline allows companies like Parker’s to automate and streamline the process of changing fuel prices at their stores. “We are always looking for innovative solutions to increase our efficiencies in…
Honoring the Thorntons Culture
Pride, tradition, exceptional service, an outstanding culture and dedicated employees. These are just some of the unique qualities found in the industry’s top convenience store chains. For the past 22 years, Convenience Store Decisions has had the honor of recognizing this excellence in retailing and this year we are proud to honor Thorntons Inc. as…
Motivating Employees in a Challenging Economy
Some chains just don’t have the financial resources to give out much-deserved raises and bonuses, but there are other ways to show your staff you appreciate their hard work. By John Lofstock, Editor. To say the least, the past few years haven’t been the best for business. While we have weathered a brutal recession, it’s…
Advertising, Marketing, Entertaining and Deducting
Promotional budgets are typically one of the first costs businesses look to slash when times get tough. But understanding available tax deductions can help offset advertising expenses. By Mark E. Battersby, Contributing Editor. Without effective marketing and advertising, customers may recognize the existence of your convenience store business, but they won’t know anything about it.…
A Higher Calling
Pastor Tom Atchison’s work with those down on their luck has led him to many places, but never did he think he would find his calling at a Texaco car wash and convenience store. As Pastor of the New Beginnings Church in Tampa, Fla., Atchison also runs a program called New Beginnings, which provides transitional…
The Impact of Tobacco Federal Excise Taxes
The increase of federal and state cigarette excise taxes will have a far-reaching, negative impact on the convenience store industry. With the exception of petroleum products, no other category is more vital to the industry’s success than tobacco products. Given that cigarettes represent 30-45% of c-store inside sales, the deterioration of this category will have…