“Age is just a number,” said British actress and author Joan Collins, “unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.” The older I get, the more I can relate. Some people look far younger than their actual age, such as Jennifer Nichols Leidich, our national advertising manager. Jennifer is one of those people who is perennially youthful, especially in her outlook on life (a hearty congratulations to Jennifer and her new hubby, Steve Leidich, who just tied the knot).
Then there’s my 19-year-old son, Cameron,
who could easily pass for 21. A few years ago, I took him to lunch at a restaurant known for craft beer. When the waiter asked my son if he’d like to sample a flight of beer, I snapped back, “He’s 15!”
As convenience retailers well know, checking IDs for age-restricted purchases is critical, and there’s always room for human error. That’s why we’re so excited about a new digital age-verification solution called TruAge™, from NACS and Conexxus. Our cover story (see page 30) explains how this groundbreaking app and program integrates with existing point-of-sale systems to take the guesswork out of verifying age—while preserving consumer privacy, speeding the checkout process for age-restricted items and most importantly, preventing sales to would-be underage purchasers.
Improving the customer experience is certainly in sharp focus as we turn the corner on the pandemic. In many cases, designers are reworking store layouts to accommodate this technology-forward age of digital orders, curbside pickup and delivery and a new cohort of c-store customers. Read how retailers are re-imagining their stores in “Strategy-Based Design” on page 70.
Speaking of new beginnings, NACS is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month! We were founded in 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri. As an homage to our 60th and all things convenience, Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives, weaved together a must-read on the three—nay, four—waves of convenience in “Making History” on page 42.
This August, life is edging much closer to “normal” than this time last year, and many students are stepping back into the classroom for the first time in many months. C-stores are hoping for more foot traffic, and they’ll have the foods ready that busy families crave as we share in “Studious Snacking” on page 64. Speaking of snacks, in July’s cover story, “The Hot Sellers,” I goofed and paired Pringles with the wrong manufacturer. Apologies to Kellogg Company, which has owned the iconic brand since 2012.
I can think of no better primer on brands in convenience retailing than the 2021 NACS Show, October 5–8, at McCormick Place in Chicago. See you soon, my friends!
