The checkout counter is the last chance to get customers to purchase additional items and leaves a lasting impression in customers' minds. Making sure your counter has a tempting “selling zone” that draws in impulse shoppers to increase your profits. Understanding what is working and how you can improve can make all the difference. If you believe your checkout counter does not need improvement, understand that “no matter what you’re selling, a disorganized store filled with cluttered shelves...

Owning and operating your very own business comes with a lot of responsibility, which for some people, can mean a lot of worry. While it can be easy to get caught up in the anxiety of failing or making mistakes, operating your c-store in a constant state of fear could be the reason your business is unsuccessful. Of course, you should always be trying to protect your business and your livelihood, but be aware of the consequences when unhealthy fear begins to take over your mindset.

There are over 155,000 c-stores in the Unites States alone. Competition is on every owner’s mind. Whether it is a new business opening down the street or a rival store that you’ve been competing with for years, understanding how customers think and why they might choose another store over you is the first step improving your c-store.

In today’s regulatory environment, health inspectors are evaluating retailers on the efforts they are making to keep their consumers safe rather than what might already be wrong. Inspections are no longer only intended to check for obvious potential dangers, but also to examine the procedures and standards in an individual business. As inspectors are becoming more stringent in the way that they monitor convenience stores and other food retailers, it’s more important for owners and operators to...

Keeping the right products in your store is about more than simply finding the ones you get a great deal on, the ones other stores are carrying, or even the ones customers have bought before. Deciding what products you should stock in your store, and how, should rely on a careful strategy. This strategy is called category management. While the large chains have corporate teams to study data and analyses to guide the right purchasing decisions, category management is an activity that businesses...

Out of stock can sometimes mean out of business, according to Jim Callahan of Convenience Store Decisions. Many owners have not been paying attention to the effects that out-of-stock products can have on a c-store. It is important to understand how this is happening and how it can cause you to lose major profits if you do not take simple steps to fix the problem now.

We really can’t say this enough: Owning and operating a convenience store is a tough job. When you are a single store owner with very little help, this job is even harder. Not only do many c-store owners independently own and operate their store, they are often actually doing the day to day work inside the store too. With a demanding daily workload and the pressure to continue growing and expanding their business, it’s easy for the average c-store owner to become burnt out and lose sight of the...

One of the most important aspects of owning a c-store is deciding product pricing to make the most profit. Learning to develop your pricing strategies, knowing what to avoid, and understanding the importance of knowing your competition’s prices helps you be informed and make the best pricing decisions. The following information will give you a foundation to better understand your customers, your c-store, and the art of product pricing.

When someone says “convenient store” or “c-store” some people think of a very small store, often connected to a gas station, filled with snacks and beverages. Many people frequent c-stores for their junk food fixes or grab-and-go meals. However, many business owners are redefining the c-store by making the most of their space and location and giving consumers a broader variety of reasons to come to their store. Now, with the right approach and effort, c-store owners can turn their store into...

A large part of being successful within the convenience industry is being able to provide great customer service. One way many owners fall short is by not understanding how much communication with your customers can affect this service. It is important to learn the common errors that occur and how you can easily improve communication skills for you and your store.