Convenience Matters
451 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsWhether it’s for food, fuel, drinks or snacks — about half of the U.S. population is at a convenience store every day. We sell 80% of the country’s fuel and we are 4% of the total U.S. economy. We’ll talk about what we see at stores — and what the future may hold — as long as it’s convenient.
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Episodes
#50 Foodvenience
January 02, 2017 05:00 - 13 minutes - 25.2 MBWhat do stand-out convenience stores around the world have in common? Good locations, great food and superb service. Hear about retailing around the world from NACS European partner and managing director of Insight, Dan Munford. From “foodvenience” to dog washes, find out what makes a store memorable and worth the cross-continental trip to visit. Host Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives, talks to Dan about convenience retailing excellence around the world and i...
#49 Assessing Fuels Markets
December 26, 2016 05:00 - 14 minutes - 26.5 MBFor fuels retailers and their customers who are used to seeing retail gas prices change a few times a month, Denmark would be quite a shock, with prices changing a dozen or more times a day. That’s just one of many insights that Ian Thompson shared from his international travels in studying fuels markets. One thing is certain--fuel retailing is not easy and is getting even more complicated with the impact of increased competition, de-regulation, volume challenges and ever-diminishing margins...
#48 EMV Implementation Extension—But Don’t Put Off Upgrades
December 22, 2016 05:00 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MBThose new “chip” credit card readers that are seen inside some retail stores may not be coming to your local gas station as soon as originally planned—the implementation date to require something known as EMV at gas pumps was extended from October 2017 to October 2020. This announcement is particularly beneficial to the fuel retailing community. What does this implementation date change mean for small and medium-sized retailers that comprise 80% of the convenience and petroleum retail market...
#47 Amazon Go: How It Could Disrupt Convenience Stores
December 19, 2016 05:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBThe new Amazon Go retail concept is groundbreaking—an 1,800-foot store where customers use an app to continuously check out and never have to wait in lines. Amazon is just the latest in a long line of retail giants testing the convenience space, including Walmart, Tesco, Target and The Home Depot. How might this affect the convenience store industry? And, how does this revolutionize the concept of convenience, both now and over the next few years? The hosts discuss how the new Amazon Go re...
#46 Doing Good for the Neighborhood
December 12, 2016 05:00 - 20 minutes - 36.6 MBFor VERC Enterprises, business goals always come back to serving the community. Nearly 20 years ago, the company tested a program to provide work to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After finding that the program significantly increased culture, it grew to providing employment to other hard-to-place individuals. Today, more than 20% of the 250 employees are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is just one of the many ways the company...
#45 EPA and Tank Corrosion
December 05, 2016 05:00 - 18 minutes - 33.7 MBEPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks is responsible for ensuring that fuel retailers maintain their tank systems to prevent petroleum releases. A 2016 report issued by the Office found that many diesel fuel retailers have experienced excessive corrosion in their systems and that many more may not even know they have a problem. Convenience Matters spoke with EPA about this study, new tank regulations and the relationship between EPA and tank owners. Co-hosts John Eichberger, Executive ...
#44 Are You Fit for Fresh?
November 28, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 29.8 MBCustomers are increasingly seeking out more fresh items at convenience stores--whether bananas, fruit cups or salads. And this trend is attracting new customers, especially millennials and women. But that doesn’t mean that a fresh offer will work at every store. If you’re not sure if you are ready to expand your fresh offer, review a quick 10-point checklist that Kelly helped develop as part of her involvement on the NACS-United Fresh “Fresh Convenience” task force. Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, N...
#43 No Soup for You
November 21, 2016 05:00 - 19 minutes - 36.4 MBLarry Thomas is known by that iconic character but sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time. He got the call to play the part about 7:30 at night and came up with his character in the early morning hours. And over the course of those few hours he created a character so memorable it led to an Emmy, an iconic catch phrase and a product line of, you guessed it, soups. Larry shares his thoughts on the NACS Show, explains how soup can sell in a c-store, and provides a behin...
#42 Understanding Consumers’ Minds
November 14, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 29.3 MBWhy do blindfolded taste-test volunteers say that chocolate yogurt tastes like strawberry yogurt? It comes down to psychology and if their minds think it, they react accordingly. NACS Show attendees packed an education session to get insights about how the consumers’ mind works from Adam Brumberg—and we had a chance to dive deeper into how retailers can better understand human psychology to help increase sales of better-for-you items in stores. Co-hosts Jeff Lenard, NACS Vice President of ...
#41 Competitive Advantage
November 07, 2016 05:00 - 14 minutes - 27 MB“You need to separate yourself from the competition,” stresses Kent Couch. It’s something that he first did with a series of record-setting cluster balloon flights, beginning in 2006. However, the story about his Stop & Go store in Bend, OR, is really about what they have brought home from learning at NACS Shows and through NACS membership. Currently, it’s the wildly popular growler program, with more than 50 taps in the gas station. His store was the first to put in a growler station in the...
#40 Life Is Good
October 31, 2016 04:00 - 16 minutes - 30.8 MBEveryone at the NACS Show was talking about the NACS Show general session speeches. So it only makes sense that Convenience Matters talked to one of these speakers, Steve Gross. At the heart of his work, Steve helps others discover the power of optimism so that they can build resilience and bring greater joy, connection, courage and creativity to their lives. Co-hosts Carolyn Schnare, NACS Director of Strategic Industry Initiatives; and Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mi...
#39 Store Tours: South America
October 24, 2016 04:00 - 21 minutes - 39.6 MBThe fuels and vehicles markets are truly global in scope and there are a number of fueling trends in South America that are relevant to the United States, from how they fuel vehicles to what fuels are sold, to what consumers do once they come inside the stores. And, as can be expected, there are also some interesting fueling-related issues that have emerged.
#38 Ethanol Overview
October 17, 2016 04:00 - 22 minutes - 40.4 MBFor a lot of consumers, ethanol seems like a new transportation fuel, whether E85, E15 or the standard E10 blend that is in virtually every gallon of gasoline sold today. But it’s actually the fuel that was used for those first automobiles produced in the 1880s. And ethanol is continuing to evolve, with new blends and feedstocks expected to fuel its growth, and an expanded distribution infrastructure that is efficient at delivering ethanol to markets throughout the U.S. Hear some trends you ...
#37 The Greatest Show on Earth
October 10, 2016 04:00 - 24 minutes - 44.4 MBWhether you are a first-time attendee or a regular, there is always something new to see and do at the NACS Show. So are there any tips for getting the most out of your experience? Our panelists certainly would know because cumulatively they have attended 50 NACS Shows. What’s their advice–beyond to wear comfortable shoes? It’s really about having a plan for success because all it takes is one great idea that can change your business.
#36 Beer
October 03, 2016 04:00 - 11 minutes - 20.9 MBThe hosts discuss how beer sales have evolved at convenience stores, with more of a focus on local brands and growlers. Convenience stores have long been a leader in beer sales. Not only do they sell more than half of the beer purchased in the United States, they are also leading the movement toward more local beers and growler programs. And there are some significant opportunities for retailers to continue to grow sales, with new concepts emerging, such as “crowlers” – growlers in cans.
#35 The Survey Says…
September 26, 2016 04:00 - 23 minutes - 42.8 MBThe hosts discuss how NACS looks at survey data around consumer sentiment and other broader issues related to overall image of the industry and gas prices. Do consumers say what they do--or do what they say? That’s always the big challenge in both creating the right survey questions and finding the right demographics to get the most representative answers possible. NACS solves this challenge by working with one of the pre-eminent polling groups in the country--Penn Schoen Berland—whether t...
#34 Pulling Together
September 19, 2016 04:00 - 21 minutes - 38.8 MBThe hosts discuss how NACS works with the Project on Nutrition and Wellness to create tool kits and programs to better the convenience retailing industry. On paper, the concept sounds like herding cats: bringing together disparate groups, sometimes even those who are polar opposites, to address a critical problem for the common good. Yet in the case of Convergence, which spawned the Project on Nutrition and Wellness, it works. The group has brought together individuals and groups — with ex...
#33 Will Fuel Efficiency Standards Survive the Midterm Review?
September 12, 2016 04:00 - 18 minutes - 33.9 MBThe hosts discuss the midterm evaluation of the CAFÉ standards that were developed to require the vehicle fleet to average 54.5 mpg by the year 2025. The clock is ticking as automakers and the fueling industry look to increase fuel efficiency to 54.5 mpg by the year 2025. But a lot has changed since CAFÉ standards were imposed in 2008 when gas prices topped $4 per gallon. Recognizing potential changes in the marketplace, a midterm review was part of the initial implementation plan, with di...
#32 Committed to Improve
September 05, 2016 04:00 - 22 minutes - 40.3 MBOver the past few years, leading food and beverage companies have removed more than 6 trillion calories from their products – or approximately 80 calories per person per day. The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation led this effort that has now expanded to hundreds of like-minded companies and organizations (including NACS) that seek to continue this work through innovative and collaborative efforts in schools and communities across the country. Its Together Counts healthy lifestyle school c...
#31 Will Tesla’s Reality Meet Its Dreams?
August 29, 2016 04:00 - 21 minutes - 38.5 MBOn paper, Tesla’s had an amazing year. It has 400,000 pre-orders for its new 3 series, at a time when annual EV sales from all EV auto makers are about 115,00 a year. And its stock price is rising, even as the company begins to experience growing pains. Is it possible that its promise will be greater than its success? And more important, how does what happens with Tesla affect the future of EV in the United States?
#30 Thirty Days of Gas Station Food
August 22, 2016 04:00 - 20 minutes - 38.4 MBThere’s a perception that “healthy eating” doesn’t take place when you eat out. Restaurants, gas stations, fast-food establishments — they’re all spoken of as if they’re part of the problem. But are they? Frank Beard, an endurance athlete from Iowa, wanted to do something extreme and change the conversation, drive. So he recently conducted an experiment. To prove that it’s possible to stay healthy while eating out, he consumed only gas station food for 30 days. Find out what happened.
#29 AAA Evaluates Fuel Performance
August 15, 2016 04:00 - 20 minutes - 37.3 MBAAA suggests that consumers will find value – and pay extra – for Top Tier gasoline. We discuss recent findings and surveys that support these claims. AAA is viewed by millions of Americans as their advocate with regards to solid choices concerning their driving investments. In July 2016, the organization published a report advising drivers to seek out retailers who sell “Top Tier” gasoline. Auto makers have been promoting Top Tier gasoline since the early 2000s and have recently boosted t...
#28 Fueling a Clean Transportation Future
August 08, 2016 04:00 - 23 minutes - 43.1 MBAs great strides are made in developing vehicles that have fewer emissions and are more energy efficient, it’s important to also ensure that the processes to extract energy sources is equally clean. The motor fuels that power today’s vehicles are as clean and as uniform as they ever have been. But, that’s not the case once you go further “upstream.” Today’s global oil supply chain is undergoing rapid a transformation, as inexpensive and easily accessed oil reservoirs are drying up, forci...
#27 What’s in a Name?
August 01, 2016 04:00 - 23 minutes - 42.1 MBThere is probably no one element of starting a business that is more discussed – and debated – the company name. For convenience retailers that challenge is even more pronounced because they operate in an industry with more than 90,000 companies. And since everyone knows that convenience stores are quick (or kwik, qik, or quik) and easy, how can someone find a name that sets the store apart? A NACS Magazine cover story examined this topic and naming experts suggested both a process to define...
#26 Warm Weather Heats Up Sales
July 25, 2016 04:00 - 16 minutes - 31.1 MBOverall, convenience store sales from June through August are about 5% higher than the rest of the year, according to NACS sales data. And the sales of packaged beverages – soda, water, juices, teas and sports and energy drinks – are nearly 18% higher over the hot summer months. Warm weather and longer daylight hours are the reason behind the growth in sales, but there are some other factors that drives summer sales. The hosts discuss the dynamics of convenience store sales over the summer...
#25 How Does the Renewable Fuels Standard Affect Me?
July 18, 2016 04:00 - 21 minutes - 39.1 MBMandates require ethanol to be blended into transportation fuels and today 10% of all gas sold is actually ethanol. What’s next with both mandates and consumer demand for ethanol? The Renewable Fuels Standard, otherwise known as the RFS, has been around for more than a decade. But the idea of using renewable fuels like ethanol has been around since the first automobile in the 1880s – which actually was fueled by ethanol. Today, ethanol comprises about 10% of the total fuel sold in the Unit...
#24 Texas Convenience Stores
July 11, 2016 04:00 - 20 minutes - 37.7 MBTexas has the most convenience stores and also is a leader in driving innovation. Who are the companies leading the charge and why? Texas dominates the convenience store industry. It is where the industry began in 1927 and today is home to more than 15,600 convenience stores, or one of every 10 convenience stores across the country. The ideas and the execution also make Texas unique, from stores with delicious tacos and even lobster bisque to innovative designs and some very unique offers.
#23 Gas to Go
July 04, 2016 04:00 - 18 minutes - 33.3 MBSilicon Valley seeks to disrupt the retailing business with a number of initiatives. What are their odds of success? A number of emerging companies are seeking to disrupt the retail fueling business by offering gas on demand: click on an app, order your fuel and wait for your fill-up. Company promises proclaim “Welcome to life without gas stations” and “Never stop for gas again.” But is this an industry that can be disrupted by technology; and what are the challenges that these businesses...
#22 We Card
June 27, 2016 04:00 - 22 minutes - 42 MBWe Card was founded to minimize youth access to tobacco. More than two decades later, it’s working, and there are a number of new initiatives to further its success. The hosts share clips from interviews conducted at NACS Day on the Hill to learn the importance of advocacy – and how others can get involved. NACS was a founding member of the pioneering We Card program that was launched in in 1995 to help introduce the concept of responsible retailing on a massive scale. Today, convenience ...
#21 Fresh Convenience
June 20, 2016 04:00 - 22 minutes - 41.4 MBTwo years ago, NACS and United Fresh partnered to develop tools to increase the sale of fresh produce in convenience stores – and the partnership has been successful in its objectives. With more than 154,000 locations across the country, convenience stores are increasingly seen as a convenient destination for consumers to buy fruit and vegetables. And part of that reason is because NACS and the United Fresh Produce Association have worked together to significantly increase the sales of fr...
#20 Advocacy Made Easy
June 13, 2016 04:00 - 23 minutes - 43.8 MBWhile it may sound cliché, members of Congress really do want to hear from their constituents. NACS, like many leading associations, makes it easy for its members to come to Washington, learn the process and the issues and then have productive meetings with their elected officials. Whether you are a first-timer at an annual day on Capitol Hill or a regular – or even a supplier member, the process works. We’ll get to tips and advice from a variety of attendees – and provide context for how ot...
#19 Shared Travel: Revolution or Evolution?
June 06, 2016 04:00 - 20 minutes - 38.3 MBSmartphones have gone well beyond transforming how people communicate and share moments from their lives on social media – they are now transforming how people share things, whether renting homes, selling goods or even sharing cars. The allure to shared travel comes down to one central fact: the average vehicle is used about 5%, on average, each day. Will shared travel disrupt the market – and if so, who will lead this change? Smartphones have revolutionized how we use a variety of product...
#18 Seeing Is Believing
May 30, 2016 04:00 - 19 minutes - 36.5 MBThe idea sounds crazy to other retail channels: go to a store and possibly disrupt operations to film and share your best ideas that your competition can then see during a general session at the NACS Show. Yet, most convenience retailers happily agree to be profiled because the convenience store industry is used to sharing areas and making each other better. In the past two decades, the Ideas 2 Go video program has visited 38 states and five countries. NACS has shared retailer ideas on vid...
#17 Finding New Ideas
May 23, 2016 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.3 MBConvenience retailers are always looking for new products or concepts to delight their customers. Sometimes they are able to incorporate them into an existing business – and sometimes it leads to an entirely new business. Richard talks about how he finds new ideas and even new business opportunities, such as his new concept, the Bottle Shop.
#16 Skimming: What You Need to Know
May 16, 2016 04:00 - 23 minutes - 43 MBFuel dispensers have become one of many targets for thieves looking to steal credit and debit card information by “skimming,” an aggressive tactic used to illegally obtain consumer card data for fraudulent purposes. How real is the threat and what can you do to minimize it? A discussion about the threat that skimming poses to consumers and retailers and what is being done to mitigate risks. Host: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenien...
#15 How Are Americans Spending Their Gas Price Savings?
May 09, 2016 04:00 - 22 minutes - 41.1 MBThe extended period of lower gas prices has certainly been embraced by Americans, who also overwhelming say that low prices are good for the U.S. economy. But there are significant variations in what consumers say they are doing with their savings. More than half of all consumers say that they are either saving more or paying off debts. But are their winners in retail – and convenience stores are near the top of that list. We’ll examine why. The hosts discuss the results of NACS consumer s...
#14 The State of the Industry Is…
May 02, 2016 04:00 - 29 minutes - 54.1 MBThe U.S. convenience store industry had a very good year in 2015, with record in-store sales and profits. Retailers are also optimistic about their sales in 2016, both because of their enhanced food offer and broader consumer trends. Hosts Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores and Stephanie Sikorski, Director, NACS Foundation and Mission Marketing are joined by guest Dae Kim, NACS Vice President of Research for a discussion of ...
#13 You Can Go Home Again
April 25, 2016 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBThe convenience store industry is full of family businesses,whether multi-generational or a husband and wife team. The Hub Convenience Stores in North Dakota is one such family business and more – it is Jared and DeAnn Scheeler’s return to their hometown to build a new business. Jared and DeAnn talk about some of the unique elements of running a family business – especially when it’s a new concept in a new location.
#12 Convenience Stores as Safe Places
April 18, 2016 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBThe old mindset was to discourage teens from hanging out outside retail locations. But today a number of them encourage teens to come to their business — at any hour — so that they can be in a safe haven if they find themselves in a situation where they need help. Convenience stores are playing a role in helping young people find a safe place — and it is literally changing lives.
#11 The Ultimate Good to Go
April 11, 2016 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBConvenience stores must be incredibly nimble to respond to customer demand, especially related to fresh and prepared food. In some cases, stores are evolving beyond their physical location with food trucks, like the pit beef concept that is drawing raves in the Columbia, MD, area.
#10 Defining the Future of Fuels
April 04, 2016 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.4 MBFrom electric charging to ethanol to compressed natural gas and hydrogen, new fueling options continue to gain traction in the marketplace. As these and other new fueling options emerge as viable alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel fuel, it is critical that policymakers and industry leaders have access to the latest research related to consumer vehicles and the fuels that power them. Jay talks about his role in leading the Fuels Institute, which incorporates the perspective of i...
#9 We’re in This Together
March 28, 2016 04:00 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBEven though they compete as much as any other retail channel, convenience retailers also share ideas and speak as one voice to improve the industry and better serve customers. Peter looks at some of the ways retailers can get engaged in their communities, with NACS and with their elected officials on Capitol Hill.
#8 How Do You Sell Healthy?
March 21, 2016 04:00 - 35 minutes - 33.1 MBFive years ago, it was unusual to see fresh fruit in a convenience store. Today, it’s unusual to not see bananas and other healthy items in stores. Why the shift and what is the profile of the consumer demanding better-for-you options in convenience stores?
#7 Convenient By Design
March 14, 2016 04:00 - 34 minutes - 32.3 MBCan design make you thirsty or hungry? Don’t rule it out, because store design is one of the most critical elements in retail. And at convenience stores, design is even more critical because the experience has to be fast. We’ll talk about new design trends and how they vary around the world.
#6 Gas Prices: The Questions You Want Answered
March 07, 2016 05:00 - 41 minutes - 38.9 MBNearly 40 million Americans fill up their gas tanks on a daily basis, oftentimes searching for a good price and convenient location. There is arguably no product that consumers think more about on a daily basis — yet at the same time is so misunderstood. We’ve answered some common questions we get asked about gas prices, including: Why are gas prices higher in the summer than in the winter? How come gas prices are cheaper in some areas of the country? How much does a retailer make on a ga...
#5 Congress Goes to Work
February 29, 2016 05:00 - 30 minutes - 29 MBIt’s one of the most innovative programs of its kind. Members of Congress visit convenience stores, and work behind the counter. They learn about the industry, meet constituents and gain an appreciation of what’s important in communities. And now presidential candidates are participating.
#4 Convenience Stores in the Movies
February 22, 2016 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MB“Clerks” is the most famous example of a movie about convenience stores but they are the setting in a plenty of other movies. Why? Because convenience stores are where people gather and that moves along the narrative. An acclaimed article about the topic was in NACS Magazine, featuring an interview with 2016 Oscars host Chris Rock.
#3 Is Hydrogen the Next Big Fuel?
February 15, 2016 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30.8 MBHydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. We will never run out of it. But will we run our cars on it? There are a number of high-level initiatives that are seeking to make hydrogen-fueled vehicles a reality.
#2 Making the Healthy Choice the Convenient Choice
February 08, 2016 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBWorking with the Partnership for a Healthier America, more than 1,000 convenience store locations across the country have committed to offering an expanded selection of fresher, healthier choices, helping jumpstart the industry’s efforts as they begin to focus on increasing access to more nutrition options.
#1 New Cars and New Fuels
January 29, 2016 23:41 - 28 minutes - 26.8 MBConvenience stores sell 80% of the gas purchased in the country, but what will those vehicles look like in the coming years? You’ll hear about new vehicles and technologies that will shape the future automotive landscape with a report from the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Co-hosts: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores; John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Fuels Institute Guest: Donovan Wo...