Late August found my family hitting the road for an 11-hour drive to visit family in Michigan, and along the way, we left the turnpikes in Pennsylvania and Ohio in search of food—and clean restrooms—in one stop. The rest areas were in service, but few of the on-site QSRs were open. And we soon discovered that the QSRs off-turnpike had drive-thru service but no publicly accessible restrooms, so we opted for c-stores the remainder of the trip.
In rural Marlette, Michigan, we stopped at Scott’s Quik Stop, a quirky local favorite (c-store/gas station/truck stop/ice cream shop/guns/ammo/fishing and hunting supplies), on the recommendation of my sister-in-law who assured us the restrooms would be clean. They were. As a treat, we enjoyed the largest “small-size” three-scoop, hand-dipped ice-cream cones we’d ever seen. So good! And to top it off, the store was stocked with cleaning products (hello, Clorox wipes!) and regional specialties like trail mix, jerky and wine. Imagine being a buyer at this store!
What’s the secret to landing a coveted spot on retail shelves? In “Shelf Esteem,” our cover story this month, MAPCO, Maverik, Yesway and other convenience retailers offer a frank look at how they decide what new products make the grade in their stores. They also share timely advice for suppliers seeking to get their latest innovations in front of retail buyers after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of this year’s NACS Show (but launched the NACS Crack the Code Experience).
Getting ‘back to the routine’ is a theme we are hearing frequently.
Getting “back to the routine” is a theme we are hearing frequently. Although the fall season promises to be unlike others in recent memory, there’s a strong desire to carve out a semblance of normalcy, and sometimes that means rethinking longstanding ways of doing business. Self-serve beverages are coming back, but in many areas of the U.S. they look different than before. This month, we explore what’s next for cold and hot dispensed beverage service in “A Clean Serve.” In the story there’s a great quote from Mike Lawshe, CEO of Paragon Solutions, that really resonates: “We have to stop thinking of ourselves as last year’s c-store. We are next year’s convenience experience.” Drive-thru windows and walk-up service certainly will be a part of that experience going forward, as we explore in “Pass Through.”
Another part of the new convenience experience is personalized communication. On the forecourt and inside the store, retailers are leveraging digital signage to serve up information and offers that net sales, as we share in “Attention Shoppers!” From multimedia menu boards to transparent LED film that turns c-store windows into compelling displays, the latest technology is definitely worth a look—and isn’t always as pricey as you might expect. Social media has certainly helped c-stores connect with customers more than ever as the pandemic drags on. “Marketing in an Era of Meaningful Media” details how Kum & Go, Sheetz and Wawa are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to authentically engage with customers and earn their loyalty.
Grab your favorite fall beverage and maybe some candy you’ve stashed away for trick-or-treaters—no pandemic will stop Halloween in the Stewart house—and enjoy this month’s magazine. Then drop me a line at [email protected] and tell me what you think.
