Author’s note: As you might imagine, my inbox has been overloaded with questions revolving around what can be done in store to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant customer engagement issues. Here is my take on addressing the various queries, in part or in whole, of the submittals. One thing is certain; there…

Fuel gallons are flat if not down. How can I do a better job attracting customer from the pump into the store? With the advent of ride-sharing, hybrid fueled vehicles and millennials who just don’t aspire to drive cars, improving retail conversion from the pump is critical for success. While there is no single “smoking…

What are some of the considerations of going unbranded, and is it worth the time, investment and effort? That is a very good question and one that actually invokes additional questions. Going unbranded, industry lingo for “not being branded as a fuel refiner brand, ‘Food-Mart’ or both,” is a relatively complex undertaking that is worthy…

Money is tight and we need to invest wisely. If I could only invest in rebranding or designing a certain part of my stores, where should I begin? We are advocates of developing proprietary brands that represent not only the business but your passion for your business. It is what you sell every day and…

Can I still do a redesign on a limited budget? Absolutely. We are often tasked with solving this age-old issue of delivering a champagne level customer experience on a beer budget. Effective store design isn’t necessarily all about a new look, form and or feel of store, it is about an experience and customer promise.…