Summer’s near and so will be the demand for beer, lattes, fine wine, deli and other assorted in-store products. Are you ready for the rush? By Jim Callahan As I sit here writing this, I realize that by the time any of you choose to read this, there will remain just a few short weeks…

Fuel remains the only product that customers will drive miles just to save a penny. Ensure that you’re handling fuel revenue wisely. By Jim Callahan Name another business where it’s imperative that you post the price of your No. 1 selling retail product on a large illuminated sign by the road? It’s not just lit…

Soft drinks and cigarettes are still key categories to convenience stores, but today’s sophisticated consumer expects a wide array of products when they enter the door. Staying up with trends is good business. By Jim Callahan Who among you remembers the great convenience store axiom, “If it ain’t red, it’s dead”? For those too young…

Sometimes the best life lessons are the ones that you teach yourself. By Jim Callahan I graduated from high school in the lower 25% of my class because I was a lazy and unmotivated student who studied just hard enough to continue to be eligible to play sports. Well, a funny thing happened on the…

If a home heating firm can lose nearly 50% of its business over an extended period of time, the same underlying factors are applicable to your convenience store. By Jim Callahan Many years ago, when I was younger and a little less wise, I led an acquisitions team that purchased a small fuel oil and…

Never forget that one cost of employee turnover is the loss of familiarity between your staff and the customers. By Jim Callahan Last month, I wrote on the topic of employee turnover and the small, but important, actions that employers can take to ensure a more productive workforce. Sometimes when retailers lose a staff member,…

Whether it’s at Exxon or Google, ensuring employee satisfaction is an often overlooked factor when running a business. By Jim Callahan I am, if nothing else, an unabashed copier of good ideas. Let me explain. Early in my retail career, I was tasked to try and “turn around” an Exxon distributorship noted for its dwindling…

Last minute tips for getting the most out of the NACS Show. By Jim Callahan It happens just once a year and it’s almost here. Unlike any other c-store trade show, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show must be experienced live. Whether you’re as large a chain as 7-Eleven or operate a single…

Mind control is an often overlooked quality, but it’s an extremely important attribute in business and in life. By Jim Callahan When I think of the act of mind control, I’m not referring to hypnotism or getting my best friend to squawk like a chicken. Rather, having the right attitude in the face of both…

There are many attributes that good store owners and operators possess, but knowing the value of a dollar and the value of a satisfied customer is critical. By Jim Callahan. For years, I was always puzzled by the fact that the best automatic transmission mechanic I ever knew ultimately went bankrupt, and the least talented…