Since the production of hemp was federally legalized in 2018, the CBD industry began to rapidly grow. Retailers have recognized the sales potential and have been working to get these products on their shelves. But what exactly is CBD, anyway? ‘Cannabidiol,’ better known as CBD, is one of about 100 identified chemical compounds called ‘cannabinoids’ that…
What’s the Difference Between Proprietary and Co-branded Foodservice?
As the line between c-stores and fast-casual restaurants blurs, foodservice programs are becoming an integral part of the convenience store industry. But what exactly is the difference between proprietary and co-branded foodservice, and which is the best option for your business? In a nutshell: Co-branded foodservice is when a store partners with another brand or…
What is Smokeless Tobacco?
Combustible cigarettes are the overwhelming leader in tobacco sales not only in the United States, but worldwide. Smokeless tobacco products are only a small fraction of the market. Still, their sales increases are consistently wafting upward. So, what does the industry mean by “smokeless”? The answer is fairly straightforward – anything you can’t light up…
What’s the Difference Between Snuff and Snus?
Two popular types of smokeless tobacco on today’s c-store shelves are snuff and snus (rhymes with goose). Both are usually packaged in a small round “tin” or “can,” with plastic replacing the metal of old. So what’s the difference? Don’t fret. It’s easy to be confused by the terminology. In fact, “snus” is the Swedish…
What’s the Difference Between Skimming and Shimming?
Most convenience store retailers are unfortunately familiar with the term skimming. Skimming is a process by which a thief places a device on a card reader — usually at the gas pump or ATM — and intercepts the magnetic stripe information from credit cards as unsuspecting customers slide their cards. This allows the thief to…
Why AI Matters for Retail
Gartner and McKinsey Global Institute forecast trillions of dollars in annual impact from artificial intelligence (AI), yet most retailers still struggle to understand what AI is and how to pilot it in their organizations. A recent research project from MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) analyzed AI adoption based on a…
What is Frictionless Checkout?
Frictionless checkout aims to eliminate “friction” or pain points during the checkout process in a store by increasing speed and convenience and dismantling barriers that might make the process more complicated or time consuming. The term frictionless checkout popped into the mainstream vernacular and quickly reached ubiquity in 2016 when Amazon introduced its first Amazon…
What is the Difference Between LED Lighting and Fluorescent Lighting?
LED lighting has been on a white-hot pace replacing fluorescent tube lighting in nearly every capacity across the convenience store universe. The reasons are many. LEDs are up to 50% more efficient than fluorescent lights – so they use less energy. Translation: Dramatically smaller electric bills. LEDs usually last at least twice as long as…
What is LED Lighting?
Technically, LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. Basically, it’s a semiconductor that lights up when electricity passes through it. Electroluminescence. While the rise of LED lighting is a recent phenomenon, it was developed in the early 1960s along with computer technology. The first LED lights emitted infrared rays. Then they radiated the color red. Over the…
What’s the Difference Between ATM Transaction Fees and Surcharges?
There was a time when the only place an American consumer would see an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) was outside a bank. As the ATM turns 50 this year, that’s no longer the case. Now people are likely to find ATMs nearly anywhere. And when they do, they’re certain to find fees to use…