Playing hockey, driving a car or simply taking a walk down the street are all everyday examples of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. How this scientist and his laws can be applied to the convenience industry might be a stretch unless you look at it from a business perspective. As the story goes, a…
Renewable Fuel Trends For 2019
Casey’s General Stores is one c-store selling biodiesel blends because it helps offset some of the decline in the quality of petroleum diesel. By Troy Shoen, Renewable Energy Group A little over a year ago, Casey’s General Stores had just a handful of locations selling biodiesel blends. Now, Casey’s offers biodiesel blends at over 600…
YEO Preparing Leaders for Real-World Challenges
Many years ago, when the National Advisory Group (NAG) was preparing to relaunch the Young Executives Organization (YEO), I reached out to John MacDougall, the venerable founder of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes in New York, and asked him for advice. John was an excellent source for NAG because he believed in the association and…
Safety is a Business Virtue
Concerns over safety risks are a natural part of the convenience store industry. Implementing common-sense solutions can go far in securing your operation. By Jim Callahan There are few words that go together as well as safety and security. Those concepts make people feel good when they are at work, and uneasy when they are…
You Gotta Have Heart
The lesson of never giving up is as true in retail as it is on Broadway. By Jim Callahan Going way back in time, to 1955 specifically, there was a very popular Broadway musical, entitled “Damn Yankees.” If you dare to venture down memory lane that far, you might remember the song, “You Gotta Have…
C-Store Stands Out with Renewable Fuels
Fontana Truck Stop Center is attracting customers with its diverse renewable fuels line-up. By Troy Shoen Everyone who operates a convenience store knows that the real estate saying of “location, location, location” is especially true for their business. But even a great location is only as good as the value of the products offered. Giving…
Building an Entrepreneurial Culture
It has been a great few months for all of us here at Convenience Store Decisions as we got to spend some time learning about Kwik Trip, the Wisconsin retailer who earned our 2018 Chain of the Year honors. The one thing that stands out at Kwik Trip is the caliber of its people. KT’s…
New Technology Brings New Challenges
Retailer perspectives are key when it comes to how technological devices best interface in a secure environment. By Jenny Bullard Today, most all convenience store retailers have a back-office interfaced to their point of sale (POS). With back-office software, retailers have the capability of capturing sales data by transaction, by item, deposits and credit card…
Considering EMV Upgrades
If E15 becomes the norm, EMV-compliant dispensers meeting current E10 standards will be inadequate. By Mark Radosevich The approaching deadline for retail forecourt EMV (Europay, Mastercard and VISA) compliance has been a front burner item for many store operators and fuel marketers. Upgrades range from around $15,000 for new fuel dispensers to $6,000 for card…
Post and Pray Doesn’t Work Anymore
In today’s competitive workforce, knowing how to poach quality employees and poach-proof your own employees are key strategies to success. By Mel Kleiman Remember about 10 years ago when you could post a “Now Hiring” sign in your front window on a Monday morning and have your choice of several quality applicants by the afternoon?…