Convenience Matters

What do stand-out convenience stores around the world have in common? Good locations, great food and superb service. Hear about retailing around the world from NACS European partner and managing director of Insight, Dan Munford. From “foodvenience” to dog washes, find out what makes a store memorable and worth the cross-continental trip to visit. Host Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives, talks to Dan about convenience retailing excellence around the world and in the United States.

For fuels retailers and their customers who are used to seeing retail gas prices change a few times a month, Denmark would be quite a shock, with prices changing a dozen or more times a day. That’s just one of many insights that Ian Thompson shared from his international travels in studying fuels markets. One thing is certain--fuel retailing is not easy and is getting even more complicated with the impact of increased competition, de-regulation, volume challenges and ever-diminishing margins around the world. Also hear how deregulation is affecting markets in India, Brazil and Morocco, which are in early stages of deregulation.   The key for retailers is to focus beyond just pricing strategies and look at other offerings to differentiate from their competition. Co-hosts Stephanie Sikorski and Donovan Woods talk with guest Ian Thompson of Kalibrate about broad trends like competition and deregulation and how it affects the fuels markets around the globe.

Those new “chip” credit card readers that are seen inside some retail stores may not be coming to your local gas station as soon as originally planned—the implementation date to require something known as EMV at gas pumps was extended from October 2017 to October 2020. This announcement is particularly beneficial to the fuel retailing community. What does this implementation date change mean for small and medium-sized retailers that comprise 80% of the convenience and petroleum retail market—and how does this affect your fill-up? The hosts discuss how the new implementation date for outside EMV affects retailers—and their customers.

The new Amazon Go retail concept is groundbreaking—an 1,800-foot store where customers use an app to continuously check out and never have to wait in lines. Amazon is just the latest in a long line of retail giants testing the convenience space, including Walmart, Tesco, Target and The Home Depot. How might this affect the convenience store industry? And, how does this revolutionize the concept of convenience, both now and over the next few years? The hosts discuss how the new Amazon Go retail store concept could revolutionize the retail environment—and what retailers can study to consider implementing at their own stores.

For VERC Enterprises, business goals always come back to serving the community. Nearly 20 years ago, the company tested a program to provide work to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After finding that the program significantly increased culture, it grew to providing employment to other hard-to-place individuals. Today, more than 20% of the 250 employees are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is just one of the many ways the company seeks to delight customers and celebrate the communities in which it serves. Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mission Marketing talk to Leo about how he delights customers and gives back to the community.

EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks is responsible for ensuring that fuel retailers maintain their tank systems to prevent petroleum releases. A 2016 report issued by the Office found that many diesel fuel retailers have experienced excessive corrosion in their systems and that many more may not even know they have a problem. Convenience Matters spoke with EPA about this study, new tank regulations and the relationship between EPA and tank owners. Co-hosts John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Fuels Institute, and Donovan Woods, Director of the Fuels Institute, talk to the EPA about the Agency’s report on corrosion in diesel storage tanks, underground storage tank regulations and priorities for the tanks program.

Customers are increasingly seeking out more fresh items at convenience stores--whether bananas, fruit cups or salads. And this trend is attracting new customers, especially millennials and women. But that doesn’t mean that a fresh offer will work at every store. If you’re not sure if you are ready to expand your fresh offer, review a quick 10-point checklist that Kelly helped develop as part of her involvement on the NACS-United Fresh “Fresh Convenience” task force. Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mission Marketing talk to Kelly about what stores need to consider before they embark upon a more comprehensive fresh offer in stores.

Larry Thomas is known by that iconic character but sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time. He got the call to play the part about 7:30 at night and came up with his character in the early morning hours. And over the course of those few hours he created a character so memorable it led to an Emmy, an iconic catch phrase and a product line of, you guessed it, soups. Larry shares his thoughts on the NACS Show, explains how soup can sell in a c-store, and provides a behind-the-scenes account of his time working with the stars of the hit TV show, Seinfeld. Co-hosts Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mission Marketing; and   Nat Keller, NACS Director of Marketing talk to Larry about foodservice in the convenience channel with the debut of his new soup line, growing up in an entrepreneurial household, and—of course—what it’s like to have been a part of a show that revolutionized American pop culture.

Why do blindfolded taste-test volunteers say that chocolate yogurt tastes like strawberry yogurt? It comes down to psychology and if their minds think it, they react accordingly. NACS Show attendees packed an education session to get insights about how the consumers’ mind works from Adam Brumberg—and we had a chance to dive deeper into how retailers can better understand human psychology to help increase sales of better-for-you items in stores. Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives talk to Adam about the psychology behind how consumers make decisions—and what you can do about it.

“You need to separate yourself from the competition,” stresses Kent Couch. It’s something that he first did with a series of record-setting cluster balloon flights, beginning in 2006. However, the story about his Stop & Go store in Bend, OR, is really about what they have brought home from learning at NACS Shows and through NACS membership. Currently, it’s the wildly popular growler program, with more than 50 taps in the gas station. His store was the first to put in a growler station in the Northwest a few years ago. (Kent said that he got the idea from a NACS Daily article, and he says that it may have kick-started the entire growler craze in the Northwest.) Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives talk to Kent about how he finds ideas to grow his one-store business. (Hint: The NACS Show plays a big role.)

Everyone at the NACS Show was talking about the NACS Show general session speeches. So it only makes sense that Convenience Matters talked to one of these speakers, Steve Gross. At the heart of his work, Steve helps others discover the power of optimism so that they can build resilience and bring greater joy, connection, courage and creativity to their lives. Co-hosts Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mission Marketing talk to Steve about the themes that were part of his highly acclaimed 2016 NACS Show general session presentation.

The fuels and vehicles markets are truly global in scope and there are a number of fueling trends in South America that are relevant to the United States, from how they fuel vehicles to what fuels are sold, to what consumers do once they come inside the stores. And, as can be expected, there are also some interesting fueling-related issues that have emerged.

For a lot of consumers, ethanol seems like a new transportation fuel, whether E85, E15 or the standard E10 blend that is in virtually every gallon of gasoline sold today. But it’s actually the fuel that was used for those first automobiles produced in the 1880s. And ethanol is continuing to evolve, with new blends and feedstocks expected to fuel its growth, and an expanded distribution infrastructure that is efficient at delivering ethanol to markets throughout the U.S. Hear some trends you can expect to see in your tank – and get some in-depth analysis of the market.

Whether you are a first-time attendee or a regular, there is always something new to see and do at the NACS Show. So are there any tips for getting the most out of your experience? Our panelists certainly would know because cumulatively they have attended 50 NACS Shows. What’s their advice–beyond to wear comfortable shoes? It’s really about having a plan for success because all it takes is one great idea that can change your business.

The hosts discuss how beer sales have evolved at convenience stores, with more of a focus on local brands and growlers. Convenience stores have long been a leader in beer sales. Not only do they sell more than half of the beer purchased in the United States, they are also leading the movement toward more local beers and growler programs. And there are some significant opportunities for retailers to continue to grow sales, with new concepts emerging, such as “crowlers” – growlers in cans.

The hosts discuss how NACS works with the Project on Nutrition and Wellness to create tool kits and programs to better the convenience retailing industry. On paper, the concept sounds like herding cats: bringing together disparate groups, sometimes even those who are polar opposites, to address a critical problem for the common good. Yet in the case of Convergence, which spawned the Project on Nutrition and Wellness, it works. The group has brought together individuals and groups — with expertise in consumer behavior, marketing, public health, nutrition education and public policy — and worked with NACS to create a major, unified shift in demand for healthier foods at convenience stores.

On paper, Tesla’s had an amazing year. It has 400,000 pre-orders for its new 3 series, at a time when annual EV sales from all EV auto makers are about 115,00 a year. And its stock price is rising, even as the company begins to experience growing pains. Is it possible that its promise will be greater than its success? And more important, how does what happens with Tesla affect the future of EV in the United States?

There’s a perception that “healthy eating” doesn’t take place when you eat out. Restaurants, gas stations, fast-food establishments — they’re all spoken of as if they’re part of the problem. But are they? Frank Beard, an endurance athlete from Iowa, wanted to do something extreme and change the conversation, drive. So he recently conducted an experiment. To prove that it’s possible to stay healthy while eating out, he consumed only gas station food for 30 days. Find out what happened.

AAA suggests that consumers will find value – and pay extra – for Top Tier gasoline. We discuss recent findings and surveys that support these claims. AAA is viewed by millions of Americans as their advocate with regards to solid choices concerning their driving investments. In July 2016, the organization published a report advising drivers to seek out retailers who sell “Top Tier” gasoline. Auto makers have been promoting Top Tier gasoline since the early 2000s and have recently boosted their efforts to recruit more retailers to sell certified Top Tier gasoline. What is Top Tier gasoline, why is it considered better for your engine and should retailers sign up to sell it?

As great strides are made in developing vehicles that have fewer emissions and are more energy efficient, it’s important to also ensure that the processes to extract energy sources is equally clean.   The motor fuels that power today’s vehicles are as clean and as uniform as they ever have been. But, that’s not the case once you go further “upstream.” Today’s global oil supply chain is undergoing rapid a transformation, as inexpensive and easily accessed oil reservoirs are drying up, forcing major industry players to locate, extract, and refine ever-riskier, costlier and dirtier sources of oil. The new report, “Fueling a Clean Transportation Future,” looks at the issues facing the oil industry and what we can do to ensure what oil we do use doesn’t get dirtier.