School's In! Is Your Store Ready?

As the year passes by, seasons and holidays continue to pass and the habits of consumers continue to evolve. Convenience stores have a unique advantage when it comes to optimizing for the various times of year and altering their store and strategy as needed. As the place where many consumers stop in a hurry or on their way to do something else at any time of year, the standard convenience store, small grocery, or gas station is a business that stands to benefit a great deal from certain consumer buying patterns.

Some companies see “back-to-school” time as a very short season to sell specific items used in the classroom or office. The convenience store owner should see “back-to-school” as an opportunity to maximize their sales and traffic for a much longer period of time. Even though the official “back-to-school” season starts around Labor Day, it brings about a complete shift in daypart trends in traffic and sales well into the following year. Of course the traffic will come, but why not do your best to make the most of it?

Single Serve Options
When it’s time to head back to school, many people are looking for food options that they can grab and take with them on the move. Single serve items are ideal for families on the go, especially students, who like to mix and match for fast meals. Try placing these options close to each other so that they can be easily accessed and assembling a small meal is easier.

Make sure you have items like yogurts, muffins, string cheese, etc. to satisfy the needs of those just looking for small portion sizes that can still supply the fuel they need to keep going throughout the day. Consider adding to your inventory of healthy foods. Consumers today are more health conscious than ever, and many will pay a premium to purchase healthier lunch items rather than chips and snack cakes.

Kid-Friendly Options
“Back-to-school” is one time of the year when what kids want should be a top priority. Many working parents enjoy the convenience of being able to grab breakfast, lunch, or before-dinner snacks in a hurry. Catering to the youngest of your customers is a great way to guarantee your store is a frequent stop on the way to and from school every day. Even single serve cereal packages and a donut case could make a difference in a family’s loyalty to your store. In addition, remember to stock up on healthy options like presliced apple packs, string cheese, and fruit cups. It’s a great way to provide the healthy choices parents want, combined with the taste kids demand.

Promote and Advertise
Make sure regular customers and those passing by know that you’re excited for the back-to-school business and you have the items they’re looking for. Advertise and promote special items or even specific deals you’ll be offering for the morning or afternoon day part customers. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring your customers in for that one cup of coffee or soda they didn’t even realize they needed on their commute.

Try Adding School Supplies
If you have even a little extra space in your convenience or grocery store, you could really take advantage of back-to-school sales by adding some school supplies to your inventory. Providing students, from kindergarten to college, the opportunity to stop in and grab some fresh pens or notebooks on the way to class is a huge asset to your business. Placing these items in clear view makes it easier for consumers in a hurry to grab what they need, a quality they’ll love about your store.

As schools all over the country are going back for classes, you want your store to be ready, especially if you’re located along the commute for most students and their families. Building a rapport with consumers at the busy back-to-school time of year helps to ensure their loyalty in the following months. That means more traffic and more money for your business.