Life’s not all about wine, golf and good times. Good business practices and fond memories have a place as well. By Fran Duskiewicz This past June marked my 30th anniversary in the convenience industry, so it’s not surprising that many memories are tied to my tenure at Nice N Easy. Here are a few pertinent…
The C-Store Game
A little friendly competition can do wonders to motivate employees. By Fran Duskiewicz Competitiveness is a human trait that can be viewed as simultaneously admirable and/or obnoxious. However, it is always a motivational force, whether handled well or poorly. I’ve always been a competitive ‘son-u-va-gun.’ My poor mom would play games with me when I…
Deciding to Sell
There’s a lot involved when a private company merges with a large competitor, including the emotional residue. By Fran Duskiewicz Every day, the trade journals’ e-news announce more privately-owned, mid-sized convenience store chains being purchased by one of the large, growth-oriented industry giants. Always, the acquirers are the news. Take for instance the recent announcement…
Working in This Aspirational Career
Sometimes the industry in which you work is more than just a job. One of the most common questions I’ve asked people within our industry is how they got to where they are. I ask that because most of us just sort of wandered in, either because of family, or because we needed a job…
A Letter From Home
Making a life change isn’t always easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. Through 30 years, I had become quite used to seeing Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes mentioned in trade journals’ headlines and stories—always in a positive way, usually focused on some innovation or one of the many awards and honors won by Nice N Easy’s…