We’re less than a week away from the New Year of 2018 and now is a better time than ever to look into the future to start spotting the trends for the upcoming New Year. Once you have an idea of the trends to pay attention to, you can start planning ahead so you can enter 2018 with a running start for your c-store.

Mital Patel is the owner of two different convenience stores in West Virginia. Since 2015, Mital has been continuously improving his Shop Rite store and in July of 2017, he opened a second location, Corner Shop. Mital is an enthusiastic business owner who believes that providing customers with a great variety of products and plenty of convenient services is the best way to keep his c-stores thriving.

Most of the time, customers will know exactly what they want as soon as they enter your store. However, every day there are customers purchasing items simply because they see them on the shelf. Customers want certain things— they just don't realize it yet. Here are our ideas for products you should consider offering in 2018 that will pleasantly surprise your customers and drive sales.

The human body is made up approximately 60% water and water is one of the essential needs every person needs. While consumers can get water from their kitchen sink if they're thirsty, they enjoy the convenience of buying a bottle of water when they're out and about. Additionally, many swear that bottled water tastes better than the water from the tap.

As c-store customers continue to show in increased interest in new flavor combinations (supported by the variety of savory salty snacks now available from major suppliers), the drive to offer a wider range of ethnic and culturally diverse products continues to grow. What makes an ethnic cuisine or beverage so appealing, and how can the c-store take advantage of this growing trend? These tips will help:

In many ways the C-Store industry leads the way for innovations for both retailers and quick serve restaurants. The latest innovative products for the c-store industry include those that make it easier than ever for customers to pay and get back on the road in a hurry. They also serve up in-demand flavors and specialties to appeal to a variety of tastes and preferences.

2018 is rapidly approaching, and you've probably started a list of New Year's Resolutions you plan to accomplish. Have you started one for your c-store, however? The start of the new year is the best time to take a look at your inventory and find areas that you could improve upon or overhaul altogether.

As a c-store owner, you always want to make sure that your customers will find the items they need in a hurry. You should stock the essential products like milk, bread, eggs, drinks, etc. However, you can also greatly benefit from selling the latest products in your store.

If you’re like most other business owners, you’re always thinking of ways to bring more customers to your store and how to get them to spend more money. Of course, advertising is critical to accomplishing both of these goals. While investing the time, effort, and money in the usual advertising tactics like window signs or flyers is still valuable, none compare to the power of word-of-mouth referrals. You c-store customers are your biggest asset and you should be taking steps every day to...

Now that we’re well into the third quarter, many c-store owners will start to experience challenging weather in their areas. In certain areas of the U.S. snow, freezing temperatures, ice, and rainfall will be affecting the way consumers go about their daily routines. This also means that businesses, including c-stores and small groceries will be experiencing a change in the flow of customers and their spending. While inclement weather can limit foot traffic and profits, it can also reinforce...