As a c-store owner, your mind is probably always thinking about the next products that you should offer, the advertising you should invest in for your store, and above all else, the cost of everything.

People are probably well aware of your c-store and enjoy stopping in to pick up their favorite snacks or drinks on their way home. However, to become a true staple of your community, you should consider partnering with other local businesses in the area through mutually beneficial working relationships. Forming and leveraging these relationships provides many different benefits for your business, most importantly expansion opportunities for your store through cross-promotional campaigns.

As 2018 rapidly approaches, now is the time to start planning your inventory for the New Year and contacting the local distributors in your area about their products. Finding a new distributor or vendor for your c-store can seem like a stressful process, and if you are a single store owner that has never worked with distributors of national brands before, the process can be even more confusing.

Being a business owner is difficult. Being a business owner without the proper capital is even harder. Whether you want to add a deli, upgrade your coolers, or even just improve your bathrooms you need money to make it happen. Even if your convenience or small grocery store is successful, finding the extra funds to invest back into your store without taking a loss isn’t easy. Luckily, organizations like IOU financial are making small business loans available for just this reason. Now, c-store...

As we reported before, SNAP retailer requirements have changed, and these changes will impact your c-store in the immediate future. Per the changes made to the retailer qualifications, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will begin implementing these finalized rules this month. You can view FNS’s webinar and download their one pager for more help preparing for the changes.

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.

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.