Retailers can now experience the Ideas 2 Go program from the comfort of their home.
The 2015 NACS Ideas 2 Go program can now be purchased in an online video format.
The fast-paced “Ideas 2 Go” program showcases emerging concepts that redefine convenience — as well as quick takeaways that retailers could easily implement at their own stores. Since 1994, Ideas 2 Go has provided a fast-paced video tour of some of the most interesting, creative and potentially profitable ideas in the convenience and fuel retailing industry.
The 50-minute Ideas 2 Go video presentation was shown in today’s NACS Show general session. NACS member companies can order and download the 2015 NACS Ideas 2 Go program (SKU # 30088022) for $30 ($60 regular price).
Orders can be placed online at www.nacsonline.com/ideas2go2015. Once purchased, visit the 2015 Ideas 2 Go viewer under the Solutions section of NACS Online (nacsonline.com/ideas2goviewer). The program is only available for purchase and viewing online; there will not be a DVD available for purchase.
The nine featured stores/companies are:
Flory’s Corp. (Flory’s Convenience & Deli)
The two-story facility features an old-time look and feel, with modern interior and exterior design elements and an upscale foodservice offer. To attract customers back after its grand reopening, Flory’s introduced a unique and successful morning gas price sale (Fishkill, N.Y.).
Verc Enterprises Inc. (Verc Express)
The company tested a program to provide work to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that also significantly increased company culture. Verc expanded the program to providing employment to other hard-to-place individuals and saw its culture continue to flourish (Kingston, Mass.).
The Cube
The prototype drive-thru convenience store offers customers a way to shop for a range of items without leaving their cars. The store has a full kitchen, fresh foods and online ordering, and takes advantage of a small lot that doesn’t work for other retail formats (Norman, Okla.).
The PRIDE Stores Inc.
The company takes great pride in its locations, offering upscale convenience and demonstrating a model of what fast food should be with its Urban Counter format. The store also features frozen kefir with fresh toppings — all in a high-volume BP station (Hinsdale, Ill.).
6040 LLC (Encore)
A new foodservice program targets early-morning customers with unique Hispanic-themed fare, and even fusion items like chicken curry tacos in a small format store. Fresh food is just one of the many ideas the company has initiated to grow sales and build its brand (Hoover, Ala.).
BF Holdings LLC (Latitudes)
Latitudes combines elements of grocery, convenience retailing, fueling and foodservice into a neighborhood hangout, especially for community groups — which makes perfect sense given that it was designed by community focus groups. In a sense, it’s a truck stop without the trucks (Rio Rancho, N.M.).
OnCue Marketing (OnCue Express)
Offering a buffet of fuels (E10, E85, 100% gas, diesel fuel), OnCue has embraced compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative domestic fuel. Combine that with a large drive-thru presence, clean stores and friendly service, the company is delivering a compelling offer to consumers (Oklahoma City, Okla.).
Sheetz Inc.
This is the first modern location for Sheetz without gasoline or parking, with a complete focus on the food and beverage offering. The nearly 15,000-square-foot location is “a giant sandbox” to experiment and develop programs to redefine the company (Morgantown, W.Va.).
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Joe’s personifies the notion that great food can be eaten at a gas station. Not only is it considered the best BBQ in Kansas City, which is a feat in itself, it is considered among the best places to eat anywhere, earning lines out the door and raves from Anthony Bourdain, among others (Kansas City, Mo.).
In addition to the nine video segments, four short “Ideas 2 Grow” segments examined unique innovations in retail.
Ideas 2 Go video from previous years (2002 to 2014) can be viewed at www.nacsonline.com/ideas2go.
