Seasonality is not only an opportunity to capitalize on different variations of products, but a chance to remind your customers that you’re paying attention to what they need and want. A changing season is a great time to shift your store strategy and keep traffic and sales booming throughout the year. As the temperature begins to fall and the leaves begin to turn, your customers are beginning to change as well. Now’s the time to make sure that you’re taking full advantage of not only the...

We always keep our eyes and ears open for what’s next and what's important in the convenience and small grocery store industry. We also enjoy sharing this information with the store owners and operators that need it. Of course, what may be most helpful to you and your business might be different from what is important to another store owner. Here is just a little of what we think everyone in the c-store and small grocery industry should be paying attention to right now.

"Targeting Convenience Store Customers", MSA and Paradigm Sample, in partnership with Convenience Store Decisions, Trish Temmerman, Management Science Associates (MSA)

In your typical C-Store or small grocery store, every item on every shelf has an image and writing on it and the same goes for everything on your walls and windows. With all that visual “white noise” consumers report noticing virtually no signage in a typical c-store or small grocery (1). So if customers report being tuned-out to the white noise of signage, why is signage so incredibly critical? Signage – whether consciously or unconsciously – guides the customer inside, guides the purchase,...

You’ve probably found that the way in which people shop, including the way they pay, has evolved a great deal over the last decade. Likewise, it’s no secret that mobile devices have changed the way we do almost everything in our lives. You can order food on your phone, change the TV channel with your phone, or even check your heart rate, and so much more! Now you can even pay in person without so much as the presence of even a credit card, just with a phone.

As the year 2016 has continued on, we’ve seen a number of changes to the convenience and grocery industry. From the use of the new “chip card” technology to the growing popularity of grab-and-go meals and foodservice, the convenience store as we knew it before is pretty different. One thing that has remained and probably will well into the future, is the importance of snack items in the c-store industry. While the need for a good variety of snacks has always been a priority for store owners,...

As a small store owner, it can often seem like you’re in a deadlock when wanting to add to your store and build your business. Obstacles often present themselves in a number of ways. We’ve heard from merchants that site property limitations, small budgets, legal hurdles, security concerns, and even staffing struggles as some of their key pain points in continuing to enhance their store and grow their profits. What we also know, is that businesses that can’t keep up with the changing demands or...

In the past few years, millennials, their habits, and their influence on the world have become hot topics. The term “millennial” has become a way for the earlier generations to stereotype their younger counterparts and almost an ongoing joke about the behaviors of 20-somethings today. Although the prevalent narcissism and entitlement in the millennial generation, as well as their attachment to technology does lend itself to jokes from others, everyone running a business should be paying close...

Technology’s constantly evolving for one reason or another. When it comes to technology in the payments industry, it’s usually for one of two reasons: security or convenience, sometimes both. When these changes take place, it’s generally a necessity for businesses to upgrade accordingly and avoid vulnerabilities or the stigma that comes with outdated technology. With a small business that’s highly susceptible to fraud activity, it’s important to take the proper steps to protect yourself and...