After studying Latin for a few years, I began to see the seasons differently. The Romans named calendar months in honor of their gods, giving a personality to each one, and they seemed fascinated with liminal space—the threshold between what was and what is next. As we wrap up this issue, there are Easter baskets in the stores alongside Valentine’s Day candy, so the concept of liminality is well understood in the retail community as well.
March always has been a time of transition. In ancient Rome, this so-called Month of Mars used to be month one, marking a new season of warfare as well as a fresh start to the year. And 2,000-plus years later, it’s no longer first on the calendar, but March remains a key turning point: It ushers in spring, warmer weather and all of the retail events that accompany the climbing temperatures. For c-stores, it’s time to evaluate consumer behaviors, review early sales and adjust buy plans. To help inform your decisions, we’ve packed this issue with trends and data you can use throughout the year.
March always has been a time of transition.
Retailers who are seeking new opportunities to wow their customers this year will find our cover story on the January 2019 Consumer Fuels Survey (p. 32) of particular interest. When do customers buy fuel, why do they choose one retailer over another, and what prompts them to go inside the store? And fuel aside, what are their food and delivery preferences? We hope this story sparks ideas about how you can attract and delight customers on a regular basis.
Also of note this month: The number of convenience stores is slightly down from last year, after eight straight years of growth. This dip is driven primarily by mergers and acquisitions activity, but the convenience channel fared much better than other brick-and-mortar channels. See our story on p. 48 to read more about these trends and check out the top ten (and bottom three) states for c-stores.
All in all, we wish you a prosperous year, however you measure the seasons. Or as the Romans might have said, bonam fortunam!
