Convenience store operators who earn a large part of their living by knowing what consumers want today are asking the question: Are hard seltzer sales fizzling? The answer is not quite as simple as they might like. The segment is maturing in the wake of the boom it experienced during the height of the COVID-19…
How to Grow RTD Cocktail Sales
How can convenience stores grow their RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktail sales? The answer is simple: A: Stock them because they are popular beverages that shoppers have come to expect to find at c-stores. Make sure there is a good variety, since consumers love choices, and feature some limited-time items. B: Know what’s selling, which is as…
How to Boost Summer Candy Sales
Boosting summer candy sales is a matter of reminding convenience store shoppers just how much fun summer should be — and what a large part of that fun candy has always been and will always remain. It begins with the retailing basics: having a good mix of the best-selling candies and brands together with value-driven…
How To Achieve Balance as a Leader
It can be hard to find balance as a c-store executive leader but focusing on a few key areas can help improve your well-being and energy, giving you more stamina and inspiration on and off the job. One of the greatest benefits I find in being a sole proprietor is that I can wield tremendous…
Is Non-Chocolate Candy as Popular as Chocolate?
Is non-chocolate candy as popular as chocolate? Consider the words of Charlie Brown creator Charles Schulz: “All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” For the latest 52 weeks ending April 29, chocolate candy recorded sales of $18.5 billion, up 9.9%, according to NielsenIQ. Sales of non-chocolate candy, on…
Should I Stock Candy Snack Mixes?
If American consumers like Product A, and they like Product B, it just stands to reason that they will absolutely love Product A+B. This is why convenience store retailers should be sure to stock candy snack mixes. Think hybrid cars. Or chocolate and peanut butter: two great tastes in one candy bar. The appeal of…
Can Beer Classics Compete With Emerging Alcohol Trends?
One of the toughest parts of retailing today is that American consumers have come to want and expect everything. But that’s one of the best parts of retailing when it comes to beer. For convenience stores, selling beer has never been and never will be a zero-sum game, where one or two styles or a…
How to Choose the Best Supplier Partners
One of the greatest advancements made in retail technology over the past 25 years is the ability to capture and store data. Armed with data on customers, sales and supplier partners, retailers have been able to improve profitability and slash operating costs. Even for small chains and independent operators, running a convenience store is more…
How to Achieve Consistent Menu Execution
C-stores looking to drive repeat business with their foodservice program should focus on consistent menu execution as their top priority. Consistency outweighs quality when it comes to foodservice. As much as the consumer wants the best quality at the best price, if they can’t get it that way every time, they are more inclined to…
Should I Prioritize Staple Candy or New Flavors?
As with so many either/or questions, the answer to whether or not to prioritize staple candy or new flavors is neither. It’s both. To be successful in the candy space, convenience store operators need a good mix of both types of products, with emphasis on core brands. That’s because consumers want everything at all times,…