Maybe it’s a premature question. Then again, maybe it’s not. Last August, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order requiring that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state are zero-emission by 2035. The impact of the shift toward electrification is also likely to play out first in California as the state…

Remember credit card imprinters? A few months ago, I rented an AMC theater and took my family to see Christmas Vacation. I always get a good laugh at the establishing shot for the department store scene about 15 minutes into the film. One swipe after another, viewers are treated to clips of credit card imprinters…

Remember when bean-to-cup coffee was the hot new trend? Five years ago, while visiting a Ricker’s convenience store in Indiana (later acquired by Giant Eagle’s GetGo), my attention was drawn to a row of bean-to-cup machines gleaming from underneath a sign about fresh-brewed coffee. It wasn’t every day that you encountered that kind of equipment…

I’m bullish about the need for more digital transformation in retail. At the same time, I have to question if sensational headlines about e-commerce taking over the world actually reflect what happened last year. Investment analyst Elena Burger recently explored this issue in an article that I encourage everyone to read. In short: e-commerce results…

What a bizarre time in which we find ourselves.  Elon Musk is now the world’s wealthiest individual, Bitcoin quadrupled in value over the past 12 months, and politics, public health and the economy are rife with uncertainty. It’s easy to look around and wonder what exactly is going on.  The past year forced individuals and…

I find it odd when checkout-free retail is said to represent a loss in customer service. In my opinion, the cash register was never an ideal setting for customer service in the first place. It’s the point in the journey when a person is finished shopping and ready to leave. The only reason it’s treated…

As you probably know, DoorDash is slated to IPO at a mammoth $32 billion valuation. While much attention has been given to the fact that they’re still unprofitable in what might be considered the best possible environment for a delivery aggregator — and by their own admission expect revenue to decline in the future —…

By Brandon Lawrence, Fuel Consultant, and Frank Beard, Director of Safe Shop, Special Projects  The marketplace is running out of room for generic retailers. Convenience is being redefined, and retailers face challenges from many directions. Whether it’s goPuff, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), dollar stores, direct-to-consumer tactics or disintermediation from third-party delivery partners, it’s never been easier…

As a consumer, it’s not easy to determine a retailer’s commitment to store safety. You want to trust that the store is cleaned, sanitized and safe. You want to know that the person scanning your snacks and beverages didn’t come to work sick — and that they have the support to stay home if they…

By Brandon Lawrence, Fuel Consultant, and Frank Beard, CStore Decisions’ Director of Special Projects Discussions of disruption often create a perception of all or nothing. This is of course a false dichotomy as reality is more nuanced. In the near future, the real question facing retailers is ‘Can your business survive if revenue drops by…