When Americans are asking questions about products they are considering buying at retail, c-store retailers need to have the answers. And one question that is often asked is: Are CBD gummies more effective than CBD oil? First, some definitions are in order. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil or tinctures contain a variety of CBD extract, and are…
How Do You Write a Marketing Plan for Your Small Business?
Small to mid-sized independent company owners, for example, may carry all of the trendiest merchandise, have a strong customer service personnel, and meet the requirements of the community by accepting EBT cards (the modern-day equivalent of food stamps). All of this is impressive, but if customers are unaware of it, it may be for nothing.…
How Can C-Stores Sell More Potato Chips?
The good news for convenience store operators is that Americans are only going to consume more and more potato chips over the next few years. The bad news is that retailers may not know which chips Americans’ will be reaching for the most. Research by Statista GmbH, however, sheds light on the continuing growth of…
Can CBD Improve Your Golf Game?
Preliminary results from a new study on the effects of CBD oil on golf players have shown positive effects on injury, sleep and on-course golf performance. The study, a joint operation with quantitative insight produced by a sport specialist market research consultancy Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) supported by shot tracking data from Shot Scope, combines interviews…
Do Ghost Kitchens Have a Role to Play in C-Stores?
Many people didn’t know what a ghost kitchen was before the pandemic, but now it seems the word is everywhere. COVID-19 afflicted the restaurant industry in such a limiting way in 2020, that every restaurant was a ghost kitchen for a period. Ghost kitchens are kitchens that are optimized to fulfill restaurant orders that will…
Why Is Restroom Cleanliness Important for Independent C-Stores?
It’s a question independent convenience store operators don’t ask often enough: Why is restroom cleanliness important for independents? The answer is deceptively simple. Customers figure if you are careless there, you’re careless elsewhere — for example, when it comes to food handling and preparation. Think about it: If someone shows up for a job interview…
Should I Sell Non-Alcoholic Beer at My C-Store?
Non-alcoholic beer might sound like something of an oxymoron, but it’s actually a growing trend. As customers become increasingly more health conscious, market research firm Mintel found in its recent report, “Beer: Incl Impact of COVID-19 US, November 2020,” that many customers are reaching for low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer options. That’s because customers often perceive…
What Do C-Store Customers Want From the Gum Category?
C-store customers seeking a satisfying type of gum desire a crisp, well-defined, long-lasting taste that literally tickles the palate of the most discriminating taste buds. A gum that provides that amazing initial burst of flavor and one that, when you chew harder in the minutes to come, has the “staying power” to deliver continued smaller…
How Can Independent C-Stores Improve Candy Sales?
If you’re a small, independent convenience store chain, working to boost candy sales is crucial to helping overall store sales succeed. When you elevate candy sales, you are going to automatically improve nearly every other large category in the c-store. It’s not just that consumers purchasing candy might need something to drink with that tempting…
How Can Independent Operators Recognize Good Employees?
People crave recognition on the job almost as much as they do money – and the sooner independent convenience store operators make appreciation part of their culture the sooner their employees’ performance will improve and retention woes begin to ease. Gallup famously reported that only one in three workers surveyed had received praise or recognition…