Research firm commercetools has been tracking shifts in retail commerce for nearly a decade and has found that changes in retail over the past five years are unparalleled. Changes are being driven by global events and the development of transformative technologies that quickly become expected by customers, challenging businesses to innovate and adapt continuously. In…

Loyalty programs have evolved to become an integral part of consumers’ everyday lives. Hubspot, a research firm that tracks loyalty solutions, has estimated that the average American 18 and older are active in at least three loyalty programs ranging from foodservice and gasoline to online retailers like Amazon. Loyalty has become a key factor in…

The most extraordinary structure is only as strong as its weakest link. The same principle applies in business. The higher up the leadership chain a weakness exists, the more likely the organization is to crumble. Convenience stores’ weaknesses at any level are magnified because we are such a people business. Enter any store, and you…

Convenience stores are often at the forefront of retail trends regarding foodservice, snacks and even retail technology. We are amidst a fascinating change in human evolution with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). As technology continues to evolve rapidly, the intersection of big data and AI will be able to predict and anticipate consumer shopping…

Competition is driving rapid changes and spurring innovation across all retail channels. Convenience stores are no exception. The convenience store space continues evolving to meet industry trends and consumer demands. Today, some retailers are expanding their footprints, others are narrowing their focus to niche markets, and some may even be doing both. All adapt to…

Leadership that prioritizes a people-first culture makes a company a wonderful place to work. Employees feel valued, appreciated and connected, which drives trust, respect and honest communication. These companies achieve higher employee engagement, attract top talent and minimize turnover, contributing to greater overall profitability. When leaders show they understand what’s going on in their organization…

These are challenging times for retailers as many external forces impact hiring and retention. The convenience store industry is in a tight battle for frontline talent today at a time when many new policies and standards are also being implemented. All of this comes at a time when employees are still lukewarm about returning to…

As we begin 2024, it is the ideal time to look back at the past 12 months to hone in on the challenges retailers faced and look ahead to forecast the sales trends retailers can expect to see over the next year. It was relatively easy last year to predict that foodservice would continue climbing…

Retailers didn’t need a survey to know incidents of theft are up and continue to rise. Whether that theft is from organized crime rings or an inside job, the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) National Retail Security Survey predicts that theft will continue to persist in the year ahead. NRF, which has conducted its Security Survey…

Restrained economic times and stiff competition across the supply chain make it critical for convenience store operators to have a solid understanding of their customers, particularly high-frequency, high-value shoppers. With clear insights, operators can manage the necessary steps to retain loyal customers and attract new ones. Though store owners continued to face a harsh post-pandemic…