Nametags can take your customer service level up a notch. By Tony Huppert Today, customer service matters more than ever at convenience stores, and the simple act of ensuring all employees wear nametags can help customers feel more connected. Nametags have been a point of discussion for my wife Trudy and I for years. As…
Location Times Three
By Tony Huppert In a recent conversation at the morning’s round table, a retired 40-year veteran of industry was informing me location isn’t as important as service. He said people will always drive out of their way for service. I disagreed with him silently; he was a paying customer. The Team Oil Travel Center in…
A Technology Sedative
By Tony Huppert Car washes at convenience stores serve as an additional revenue source along with providing a valuable asset for customers. Years ago when we installed our first car wash it was a challenge to know how many to install. Car washes are like churches, too small for busy days and a large expense…
Current Affairs
By Tony Huppert The local coffee shops, which are full of educated advisors, have been addressing the current affairs of the U.S., including the upcoming presidential election. The negative opinions outweigh the positive by a large margin with no margin for error. The positive-minded people are afraid to mention any positive news for fear of…
Definition of Prepared
By Tony Huppert, CEO of Team Oil Inc. I have had numerous conversations regarding the education of our nation’s work force. Educators are constantly trying to convince me every student needs to go on to higher education, tech school or a university to be prepared for what life throws their way. I beg to differ. A…
Ignorance Versus Intolerance
By Tony Huppert, CEO of Team Oil Inc. I wonder sometimes if some economists and politicians actually listen to themselves. California had a referendum to get the public’s opinion on raising the minimum wage to $15. Putting that question on a ballot is like asking politicians if they want a raise, oh wait, they do vote…
Be Careful
By Tony Huppert, CEO of Team Oil Inc. I think it is important that people are careful about what they ask for. It is common to hear people say “Government should be run like a business.” Big business or a small local business is the question? Big business has a tendency to only look at the…
Why Work?
By Tony Huppert, CEO of Team Oil Inc. I recently read an article which reported that working people will spend around $4,000 dollars a year going out for lunch. The article suggested these individuals should carry their lunch or do other cost saving measures to save money. Saving money at lunch reminds me of my 85-year-old…
A No Brainer
By Tony Huppert, CEO of Team Oil Inc. I recently read an article on the ongoing battle between the brick and mortar stores and online stores over sales tax collection. Services supplied to the State are normally reimbursed financially according to the service rendered. That’s the real issue. The main reason online stores do not want…
Why The Retailer?
I’ve been in retail for over 45 years. I still cannot understand why whenever there is positive or negative social unrest the retailer’s business is the first to take the hit. Stores get destroyed, robbed, window broken, retailers accosted, the list goes on. I often wonder what the retailer had to do with the situation…