Putting Your Business Needs in the Right Hands

As a convenience or grocery store owner, you likely rely on a number of other companies and vendors to keep your business running.  With an accountant, product distributor, insurance provider, and credit card processor at minimum you already have several different third parties playing a role in your business’ success.  While it is easier to simply choose a provider and continue working with them for as long as possible, you should be careful that you are not leaving any part of your business in the hands of a company or individual that does not treat your store’s success as a priority.  Make sure you are always aware of what’s happening with every part of your business and that you understand your options for change, and more importantly, improvement.

Always Compare

Whether you’re just opening a new store, or you’ve been approached by a new company with a special offer, comparing your options for any business solution is always a great first step to making a decision.  When comparing service providers or products, always look for points of difference.  You may find yourself surprised at the ways in which even the third parties you’ve trusted for years are unable to provide the best benefits to your store.  Every detail of a product or service is important and without a true comparison, you’ll never know exactly what’s best for your business.

Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Most people have heard the old saying “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”  However, taking this saying to heart could mean the difference between growing your business and allowing it to fall by the wayside.  Owning and operating a convenience or small grocery store is very demanding and there are a lot of moving parts that make dedicating extra attention to anything else very difficult.  Because of the nature of the business, most store owners don’t dedicate the proper time to seeking out improvements or changes that could make their life easier and/or make them more money.  Don’t pass on new opportunities or vendors simply because what you’re currently doing “works”.  By not learning about new solutions, you could be missing out and using third parties that aren’t putting their best foot forward for your success.  If you’re simply comfortable with the companies you and your friends have used for years, those companies are probably comfortable too and aren’t putting forth continuous effort to improve your experience.

Embrace the "New"

In today’s retail landscape, there is always a new technology or product line available.  Welcoming innovation at your c-store is a great way to keep your customers coming back time and time again as the way they shop and the products they look for continues to evolve.  Being afraid to invest in anything new for your store can severely impact the way that consumers, both new and returning, view your business and ultimately their decision to spend their money in your store.  Although there is some risk involved with implementing any new technology or carrying new products, when the right measures are taken for vetting the new endeavor and its potential benefits, you set your business up for success.  You should not assume that every new business or their new services and/or products are simply a way for them to make money.  Instead, pay attention to the ways that they want to add to your current operations and ultimately your bottom line.

Look for Partners

You should seek out third parties that truly wish to see your convenience store succeed and continue to grow.  The best companies and individuals to do business with are those that treat you more like a “partner” than a “customer”.  These parties are willing to listen to any concerns you may have, answer your questions, and be completely transparent in doing business.  Avoid being taken advantage of, or wasting your time and money, by holding all third parties accountable and ensuring they have your best interest in mind.