John Matthews

Amazingly, many companies do not think about communications — both internally and externally — until it is a necessity. A crisis occurs, a reaction follows, and, in many cases, they do not necessarily put the best foot forward. Even small companies can have an effective communications strategy that enables them to articulate company news efficiently.…

We select our store locations. We select our staff. We select the merchandise to carry; and, along those lines, we select our vendors. Selecting the correct vendors — in addition to managing these vendors during the selection process and beyond — can often be the difference between making your store profitable or simply providing real…

The fight for share-of-customer by convenience stores to effectively capture sales has never been fiercer. C-store operators that sit back and wait for their business to improve will have a very long road to recovery, if ever. Aggressive retailers that go after sales by working the critical three-mile business radius surrounding their retail store will…

Imagine a business world where resources are plentiful and industry expertise could be available at every juncture. Where decisions could be made that dovetailed alignment in support of your convenience store’s strategic plan. Imagine a world that anticipates your directives and assists in helping to execution your vision flawlessly. This is a business community that…

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a vital resource to managing your operation. Rather than relying on old adages and “I think” statements, KPIs help identify the key drivers of your store and focus your go-forward actions to address specific needs. This simple shift can make a big difference in the bottom line for small, independent…

Conducting a diagnostic store assessment is an excellent way to gain opportunistic perspectives for your location. Walking through and evaluating your store — from the eyes of the customer — can provide both strategic and tactical ideas for improvement. Whether it is the exterior appeal of your location to the interior product assortment, layout and…

Starting a foodservice program in your convenience store requires attention to detail in store-operation areas that may be new to you. Food preparation on site requires specific safety, operational management and cost control measures — and in most cases, greater customer service. By mastering foodservice basics, your new foodservice program has the best opportunity for…

Labor management is perhaps one of the most fundamental aspects of running a profitable business. Servicing the customer with too few people on staff and sales will be negatively impacted as customers will shop elsewhere. Staff the business with too many people and the profits of the products are quickly lost due to labor expense.…

Few operators take the time to better understand both revenue projections as well as variable and fixed expenses so they can see what contributes or detracts from store profitability. A profit and loss (P&L) analysis provides a simple yet effective way of managing both revenue and expenses. When conducting a P&L analysis, small tweaks can…

Creating an exciting retail grand opening or anniversary event requires work upfront, but in the long run will make your store drive sales. Still, this can often be a challenge for small, independent convenience store chains who often lack the promotional power of huge chains. But with some careful planning and strategic attention to detail,…