Just like in personal lives, stores should have new year resolutions. It is important to have goals in mind, rather than just dreams.Some people desire to lose weight, start a new hobby, or even meet love in the upcoming new year. A business should have the same optimism. However, are you unsure about where to start and/or how to follow through on these New Year goals for 2019?  The following steps should help.

Dream vs Goal

Some may argue that they are the same thing. But there is a clear difference among the two. A goal has a plan and a dream does not. A person can desire to lose ten pounds, but if they never do anything towards losing the weight then it is simply a dream. Yet, if you go to the gym and change your lifestyle, you are working towards a goal.

With that being said, what is your plan for the success you want as a store owner? It could be difficult to even develop a plan in general, but by doing the following, those dreams may become goals.

Pen & Paper

In order to begin the process, you must write down exactly what you want, as specific as possible. Within that goal, be specific with the time frame in which you plan to accomplish the goal, too. For example, if you want to increase advertising for your store, then write down how long you believe it’ll take you. Writing down your goals will not only motivate you, but it will create a realistic perspective on them.

Outline

Now that you have the goal and time-frame, you’ll need to write out the game plan. What are the necessary steps towards your goal? Again, be as specific as possible. Breakdown each step. By breaking down each step, it’ll make you feel more comfortable towards your goal. Many times, people become overwhelmed with big tasks and have no idea where to start. The moment you allow yourself to become lost in your goal, you have already lost. So, write down each step and check them off as you complete each step.

Reflect

As you finish more and more steps, it is important to slow things down. By slow things down, I don’t mean slow your progress but remember to smell the roses. Reflect on each step you have taken. Acknowledge that you are working towards this goal and your journey has begun. In addition, think to yourself. Are there things you need to adjust in your plan? Has the time-frame changed? Has the actual goal changed? Be clear about where you are and remind yourself of the end goal as much as you can.

Reward Yourself

This usually is forgotten. Every moment you have achieved a step, that is victory. Yes, the main goal may not have been accomplished, nor even close, but you are making progress. That goal is closer than ever before and that is something to celebrate about. When you do accomplish a big step in your plan, celebrate that milestone. You have been working hard and your work will reflect it. Even if the reward is small, it is still self-recognition. Celebrating and rewarding also helps your mentality. It’ll motivate you even more towards your goal.

You should even consider celebrating your success with employees and customers.  Offer a new discount on consumer favorites in celebration of your business growth or improvement, or maybe host an event celebrating the accomplishment.  Customers are encouraged to spend their money at a business that clearly aims to continue improving, celebrating your success could be a great way to catch their attention.

As an owner, your plan may have different steps compared to others but that’s okay. Each store is different; therefore, each plan should be properly adjusted to each store. Remember not to lose focus. It’ll be difficult but the moment your goal is achieved, it would have all been worth it.

Want to prepare even more? Click here for “Easy Ways to Enhance Your Convenience or Grocery Store”

Some are blessed, and embrace the sunrise, most people need some assistance for starting the day. In addition, people may need to refuel in the middle of the day. The obvious answer is coffee, but whether it’s cold or hot may not be so obvious. In 2017, sales of cold brew coffee jumped to 38.1 million, from the 8.1 million in sales from 2015. As these numbers continue to grow, sales are expected to reach new heights.

Offering cold brew coffee in your store, is a must have. The following are the top cold brew coffee brands your customers are expecting:

1. Grady’s Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate: This super smooth coffee will start your day off right with the taste of this New Orleans flavor. When in doubt, this is a good recommendation.
2. La Colombe Pure Black Cold Brew Coffee: This selection is steeped for 16 hours in stainless steel wine tanks, then pressed and filtered twice. Despite being on the sweeter side, the taste is unforgettable.
3. HeyDay Cold Brew Coffee: This delicious coffee is perfect for those with sensitive stomachs. It is easy to sip and goes along great with sweeteners.
4.  RISE Brewing Co. Original Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee: Organic and free of harsh chemicals and additives… This brand may be one of a kind in what it’s bringing to consumers.
5. Lucky Jack Double Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee: For those who need an extra kick, this is infused with extra espresso to deliver the double dose of caffeine. It will surely get the job done.

Your store already sells coffee. Why not take it to the next level and sell cold brew coffee? Contact YOUR distributor to learn how you can increase your sales and make it easy for the customer to start their morning off right.

Are you prepared for the Holidays? It’s never too late! Click here to learn what you can do to maximize revenue.

The holidays have already begun! Thanksgiving has passed, Hanukkah has started, and Christmas along with New Years is right around the corner.

Retails sales are expected to grow more than 5% from last year’s winter holiday season. To put that into perspective, retailers could make more than $1 trillion in holiday sales for 2018. That is an amazing amount that should not be taken lightly. 

Make a list and check it twice.  Here are our suggestions for the most important steps to take while preparing your c-store for the 2018 holiday season.

Inventory

With these expected sales, it is important to have enough inventory to meet the demand. Yet be wise and do your own research to see which products and services will need to be increased. The worst scenario would be having ordered too much supplies, rather than not enough. Regardless, you want to cater to your customer’s needs and make sure your shop is the difference. The biggest benefit in inventory may be the simple last minute supplies! This could be extra plates and napkins to the extra hot sauce needed for that special holiday party. 

Promotion

Now that you have inventory checked of your holiday list, it is time to get the word out there. Creating offers and deals would create buzz to attract even more customers than before. Depending on your kind of customer, be sure to promote in the best way that communicates to them! You know your customers better than anyone and can know what grabs their attention. 

Decor

Having supplies and reaching out to customers is only part of the holiday preparations. Getting into the holiday spirit does not have to put a dent into your wallet! Believe me, your customers will notice the little things. Putting up banners, lights, and even a small tree will create a difference. Not only will it boost moral for your employees, but it may encourage customers to spend more time in your store.

Customer Service

To really stand out from the competition, it is necessary to treat your customers like guests in your own home. Be sure to welcome everyone with a big smile, no matter how much they plan to spend. Encourage your employees to do the same! Greeting customers as soon as they step into your shop, will break the ice. Go the extra mile and see if you could make their shopping experience any better. After all, if the roles were in reverse, wouldn’t you want to be treated with holiday joy?  

Spend time with Loved Ones

This is the busiest time of the year. Shopping for some may be just as important as the holidays themselves. By making that list and checking it off, you won’t have to worry about meeting expectations. Don’t forget about the people that matter in your life. Customers come and go, but family and friends will always be there. Be sure to decide your time accordingly and make time for those significant in your life. Making sure you express your feelings to your loved ones is the purpose of these holidays. 

We here, at goEBT, hope everyone has had and continues to have an amazing time with friends and family this holiday season!

• Sources: Deloitte

Halloween is just around the corner and retailers in all industries should make sure they are taking advantage.  2017 is expected to bring record high spending, to the tune of $9.1 billion and the c-store owners across the country are in the perfect position to rake in much of this money.  With many opportunities at your disposal, there’s no reason to miss out on the holiday profits.  If you aren’t sure how to make the most of this Halloween, we’ve got a list that will help you get in the spirit.

• Sell Bulk Candy – Few people want to be the only door on the block without a bowl of goodies for trick-or-treaters and whether they’re really busy or just simply forgot about Halloween, there will be people scrambling for candy to pass out. Try to get some boxes of large bags of candy that last minute shoppers can grab at your c-store.  The NRF predicts that $2.7 billion will be spent on candy, don’t miss out on this category spending.
• Have a Halloween Event – You could always host a small event at your store for the neighborhood to bring them in on Halloween, or during the weekend. While hosting a Halloween event may not bring in a lot of purchases right away, it will help remind local consumers about your business and hopefully bring them back in later.
• Halloween Specials – As a c-store owner, you know that seasonal promotions are a great way to increase traffic and basket size. During the Halloween season, you have a great opportunity to boost your sales with product cross-promotion and special pricing on specific items.  Most product manufacturers have special Halloween edition products that your consumers will love so try promoting those even more.
• Offer Novelties – Although candy and snacks are a great choice for additional Halloween sales, you should also consider carrying some non-edible novelty Halloween products. During Halloween, consumers love buying fun items including spooky prank items and fun decorations.  Although you will have to make room for these short-term items, you will enjoy the typically higher profit margin when your c-store customers purchase them.
• Promote Fall Products – Halloween is a great time to promote your fall flavors and special products. That means if you’re not carrying pumpkin and cinnamon flavored everything, you should be.  Also, the cooler fall weather is pushing consumers toward drinks like coffee and hot cocoa.  By adding a hot drink station, you can provide a benefit to neighborhood trick-or-treaters.

The end of the year is filled with plenty of holidays, which means plenty of opportunities to make more money.  Halloween is a great opportunity to kick off the season and show your c-store customers that you’re paying attention to what they want.

Get Familiar with your Neighborhood

You can get your c-store ready for the back to school season by getting to know your neighborhood. Depending on the area you’re in will help dictate what items you should prioritize during for the school season. Some products that might sell well to college students, may not sell as well among working families. If you can better predict WHO you’re selling to, you can learn what products and how much of it you should have.

How to prepare?

Talk to your customers! The easiest way to learn about your neighborhood is to ask your customers and find out. Not only will you find out about their buying needs, but you are building trust with them and showing them you care as well.

College Areas: College students love their energy drinks and late night snacks. If you are near a university, it would be a good idea to have a large variety of brands and flavors for energy drinks. The millennial generation is known for their choice in healthier foods.  Also consider carrying healthy packaged to go foods that students can quickly grab between classes.

Family Neighborhood: For a family neighborhood you’ll have two target audiences to cater to: parents and the kids. Products such as coffee, quick breakfast, and candy would do well in this neighborhood. For the parents, having a wide range of coffee choices and possibly a few tea options are a sure way to beat the competition. If there are middle schools or high schools around you, keep a good variety for your fountain station and slushies for the kids who are walking by your store on their way home.

Rush Hour Times

When parents are hurrying their kids off to school and college students are racing off to class, they are bound to forget a few things in the chaos: coffee, lunch, or a few snacks. They’ll need a convenient quick stop in the morning to get what they need without breaking the bank or taking too much time. During the morning and evening commutes and for the late night college students, expect a lot of business for your convenience store.

How to prepare?  

One of the most important things to customers is cleanliness. When people are in out and out of your store, it’s bound to get a little messy and cluttered. Try cleaning the store right before the crowd comes in and keep an employee on the floor to make sure your store will stay organized. Stock up on the coffee cups, keeping watch on the coffee machines so you can make sure they never run out and that the area stays clean. Repeat this same routine for the drink station in the afternoon when the kids come by after school. Stock up on high selling items as well, you do not want to run out during your rush hours.

Especially for the first few weeks back to school while everyone is getting back into routine, staff more during peak times. This will help you keep your store clean and shelves stocked because you can have an employee on the floor and two other employees at the register. It will keep the lines moving and your customers happy.

Give Them More for Less

Everyone loves to get more for less especially college students who are always searching for a deal. Now would be a great time to introduce a “ Happy Hour” during the mornings, mid-afternoons, and if you are in a college town, late at night. The happy hour could go on for 2 or more hours to make sure your customers are coming back as well as attracting new customers. Some ideas you could use:

Morning Happy Hour

• “large coffee for $___”
• “refills for $___”

Midafternoon Happy Hour

• “$___ for any size Slushie”
• “$___ for any size fountain drink”

Late Night Happy Hour

• “2 for 1 on energy drinks/chips”
• “large coffee for $___”

If you notice you have a lot of teachers coming into your store, you might consider giving teacher promotions as well.

How to Prepare?

GET THE WORD OUT!  Start putting up promotion signs letting customers know that you are starting a Happy Hour and what time it will be at. They do not have to be huge promotion signs outside of the store, just printed on computer paper taped to your window or on the gas pumps. Also, tell your customers you will be starting a happy hour and tell them to spread the word. This way, you will start attracting new customers.

The summer is coming to an end and it’s officially back to school season. Getting back into the routine for school can get messy for your customers, but your c-store can make it easier for them.

Let us know what tips you found most useful! Follow us and leave a review on Facebook! 

Snacks

You might be thinking your highest selling items during the summer would be soda and candy, but this is not true. Your highest selling items during the summer are salty snacks.They are the fifth-best-selling item, just behind cigarettes, packaged beverages, beer, and other tobacco products.

Items to Consider

• David’s Sunflower Seeds
• Nature Valley Bars
• Clif Bars
• Yoplait

Check out this website (see PDF) to see what have been ranked as the best selling salty products.  You could see a 17% increase in sales of these items so make sure you can keep them stocked up.

Don’t forget that your customers want drinks when buying their salty snacks. C-Stores sell majority of the beer purchased in the country. This percentage will only rise during the summer with a 9% increase during the summer months. Sodas do not see as much of a selling increase as salty snacks, but it is still a big reason why customers stop by a c-store in the first place.

Meals

Customers are looking for more than just snacks when they’re stopping for a gas fill up. 56%  of convenience stores owners expect to see a growth in sandwiches and meals over the summer. Convenience stores have become more than just a place for a drink, it has become a one stop shop for everything. If you want to be your customers “one stop shop” store, you need to be able to offer them exactly what they want. They want more than hotdogs or nachos, customers are also looking for healthier meal options that are higher quality, fresh, and often vegan options.

Items to Consider

• Sandwiches
• Prepacked salads
• Fruit bowls

Brands to Consider

• Healthy Choice
• Lean Cuisine
• Smart Ones

Seasonal product placement

Stops at convenience stores can often be unplanned, so putting fast moving products in the front for impulse buyers is a good idea. This is often referred to as the “bullseye” spot that grabs your customers attention as soon as they walk in. Some examples of things you would want to move to the front of the stores would be your snacks, then placing a compliment item such as a soda next to it so the customer is more likely to buy both.

Go outside of edible options and consider selling other things such as glasses, tumblers, or small coolers. Another idea is if your ice cream freezer is in the back, you may want to consider moving it to the front. Now would be a great time to consider adding in goEBT’s preferred product, Dippin Dots. This could drive more foot traffic and increase your sales.

Your summer months from June to August could bring your highest sales of the year, maybe even 4.5% higher than the other seasons. Make sure you’re taking advantage of the opportunity.

Visit our Dippin’ Dots page to start your sign up today! {{cta(‘ed7aad92-bd21-4e93-9057-52cb084649db’)}}

Why?

To remain competitive and to keep your c-store fresh and up to date with the latest trends in convenience shopping, you should seriously consider overhauling your inventory. The beginning of the new year is the perfect time since you’ll have all of the sales data from the previous year in a convenient, concise package. This data will help you make your decisions once it comes time to do an overhaul of your product selection.

How?

The first step to your overhaul should be to analyze sales data from the previous year. Overall, was it a good year compared to last or did your sales take a slump? As you probably know, many factors contribute to the sales at a c-store such as competition, marketing efforts, and prices. For our purposes, we’re only focusing on product sales.

When looking at the sales data for 2017, doesn’t anything catch your attention? You should be able to identify products that aren’t selling well compared to previous years. Once you determine your low-sellers, ask yourself “Why do I still stock this?” The answer may surprise you. It could be because it’s a personal favorite of yours or because you already spent a significant amount of money stocking it in the first place. The best thing to do is to put personal bias aside and think of the customer first. If people aren’t buying it, get rid of it.

Also, you should consider the products that are selling extremely well and try to figure out why they did so well in the previous year. Had you stocked them for a while and they have had a steady increase in demand? Were they new products that you wanted to try? Identifying the attributes of these products will help you in finding new inventory items to stock.

Pay Attention to the Competition

You can do some competitor research to see the products that they are having success with. Take a walk down their aisles and look at the types of products they have well-stocked and the items they have very little of. A quick note here: just because they haven’t very little of a particular product type doesn’t mean it isn’t a good choice as many factors could affect this including displays, store layout, and advertising.

Look at this is a means to gather some inspiration and ideas for what your store could do better regarding inventory. Customers love seeking out the latest products and snacks, and social media has only made increased their demand for new items. Be sure that you are keeping up with industry trends, stocking the best products for your market and 2018 is sure to be an excellent year for your c-store!

If you’re expecting a winter storm or frigid temperatures this winter, make sure you are prepared for all that may occur, so your customers know you are putting in the effort to operate your business at its best no matter what.

Stock Your Store Well

If you’re located in a part of the country that typically experiences harsh weather during the winter, you should be prepared to become an important resource for the people in your community. People that live near your c-store will need food essentials like milk and bread as well as items such as wiper fluid, batteries, and salt.  Make sure that you are well prepared to handle not only traffic from those unable to travel far, but also from those who are required to brave the storm like police officers and healthcare workers.

Be Prepared for Your Own Emergencies

While your c-store may be considered a go-to location for customers experiencing an emergency, it’s also important to ensure that you are well prepared for your own emergency situations.

• Have back-up generator if possible in case power is down
• Keep shovels, salt, batteries, flashlights, and bottled water on hand
• Make sure you’ve worked out a plan with your staff to handle opening, operating, and closing the store

“Go the Extra Mile” to Impress Customers

Chances are, your customers will not be pleased about the weather in your area, especially if they’re experiencing trouble because of it.  Try to find ways that you can go “above and beyond” for your customers to make their day just a little easier or simply just show them that you appreciate their business.  Besides stocking items that they need, you can impress them in several other ways:

• Have special deals and offers for hot drinks like coffee and hot cocoa
• Do your best to keep your forecourt clear of snow and ice
• Keep your c-store’s floors clean and dry
• Make sure everyone working in your store is pleasant and as helpful as possible

Avoid the Mistakes Others Make

While you’re going out of your way to accommodate for business during bad weather, you should also make sure to avoid making a few common mistakes.

• Do not increase prices on your products to take advantage of consumers who need them
• Do not treat customers who are experiencing an emergency rudely
• Do not limit your store hours too much

Serving customers during less than desirable weather is a great way to solidify loyal customers and become an important part of your local community. Make sure your keeping an eye on weather forecasts and advisories so that you can best prepare for even the worst of storms, even if that means announcing that you will be closed.

Be Creative With Marketing

Not only do convenience stores have to ensure brand awareness online and in-store, but in recent time, a simple sales discount is not always enough when it comes to adding value. Being interactive, by getting involved with the community, is a great way for new customers to get to know about your store and build a stronger relationship. It’s also essential to have deals that directly benefit your potential customers during the holiday season. If your convenience store is not directly related to the holidays, then you can partner with appropriate businesses to offer a competitive advantage.

Offer an Unbeatable Experience

Getting the traffic through your door is just the first step. What gets new customers coming back and in turn increases your foot traffic in the long term is when you provide exceptional services and experience once customers made it to your store.  For instance, as a convenience store owner, you can offer complementary services. You can provide in-store services this holiday season and doing so helps attract new customers and also increase sales.

Reward Employees for Great Service

As a convenience store owner, consider adopting employee reward strategy. Use sales goals and comment cards as an employee performance measurement base to reward your employee with incentives for achieving great milestones. Furthermore, you can send cards and perhaps a small gift on employment anniversaries and birthdays. This shows you care and they will reciprocate the kind gesture to customers.

Show Appreciation for Loyal Customers

Convenience store owners can use options such as punch cards for drink purchases, coupons for total money spent or convenience store promo cards. Show your customers that you are glad they shop at your store and reward them for coming back time and time again.

Wow Them With a Window Display

If your convenience store is located in a popular destination with great foot traffic, take advantage of your window and create a great story about your store. Your window display will serve as an invitation to any passerby. A well-designed window display peaks a customer’s curiosity and encourages impulse sales.

Put the Best in the Front

If you have a variety of products, wheel your best product in front of your store daily. Nothing grabs customers’ eyes faster than a unique, attractive and well maintained display. What this simply translates to is that you’re the source of excitement.

Pay Attention to Displays

Merchandising, as well as displays, can have been proven to provide an efficient market to new customers, particularly in situations when the convenience store is located in proximity to another store, such. Merchandising displays can attract new customers to your c-store to check out your products rather than just walking by. Ensure to display products related to the theme being promoted during the holiday season.

Decorate the Outside

If you can make your building an instant attraction for what you sell, have at it. If you can’t, you can still put a tall banner from roof to sidewalk in eye-catching colors. At the top put, you can add pictures of your best products. Again, the goal is not to scream price but showcase the wants. Another strategy is to get freestanding banner holders to place by your doors. These are used where it’s difficult to use building banner but with the same message.

Communicate with Your Customers

Customers have their pick at numerous convenience stores especially during the holiday season as a result of promotions, making the market incredibly competitive. To help your customers to remember about your c-store, always initiate strong relationships with them during this holiday period by constantly communicating with them and ensuring you’re on their mind. Send regular emails or text messages with new promotions. Furthermore, you can follow up with people who have left items in their online cart and with geographical targeting; you can attract new consumers to your store. With this, your audience will remain aware of your brand, and the chances of conversion therefore increase.

Every holiday season is a great time for c-store owners to expand their business and bring in new customers. With shopping on the mind of everyone, try and use these tips to take full advantage of the season and deliver results which can help your business see success over the coming year

Frozen Yogurt Facts

After surveying 350 Americans about what their favorite frozen treat was, nearly 80 percent said frozen yogurt. This is not surprising since many larger c-store chains like Racetrac have been implementing self-serving frozen yogurt services into their newest store designs. The demand for frozen yogurt is there, and single store owners can still be a part of the experience without having to reconstruct their store. By offering popular brands with new frozen yogurt flavors such as Ben and Jerry’s, you can curb many of your customer’s cravings. Frozen Yogurt has also been shown to be more appealing to college-aged customers than any other take-out food item. Be sure to offer a variety of brands to ensure that they will be coming into your c-store to pick up their favorite flavor.

A Growing Gelato Category

Gelato is one of the more recent trends in the frozen treat category. By late 2016, 43 percent of customers were buying gelato. Customers seem to love that gelato is softer, creamier, lighter, and contains less fat than ice-cream. As a treat with lower fat content, customers are able to better taste the flavors, “butterfat coats your palate, and if you have less of it you can taste the flavors more quickly.” This will satisfy their taste buds without the guilt of ice-cream. Shoppers also want brands that are fat and gluten free, vegetarian, and even kosher. Talenti is a brand that has all of these qualities making it one of the fastest growing gelato brands. They also have flavors ranging from vanilla bean to raspberry cheesecake, making Talenti very appealing to those looking for new flavor combinations.

Customers also like that gelato works better with warmer temperatures. Due to its silky nature gelato is typically stored at a higher temperature than ice-cream. This means it will not be ruined on the car ride home, and tastes even yummier to the kids at home waiting to indulge.

Ice Cream: A Classic Treat

When it comes to ice cream customers are searching for products that have some or all of the following qualities:

Premium brands; some shoppers are willing to pay more for premium treats. 35 percent say that premium frozen treats taste better than regular frozen treats. One reason for this may be that many customers believe that higher quality equals an overall healthier option.

Portion control; now that healthy trends are consuming the c-store industry many shoppers want to still feel good about their guilty pleasure food items. Many customers are reaching for individual or pint sized ice creams instead of the traditional quart size. Many will even pay more for the option of receiving less so that they will not be tempted to binge and overeat. This is good news for owners who can make more money on ice cream products while saving room in their freezers.

Innovative flavors; although vanilla is still the number one seller across the board, combining customer favorite snacks and ice cream is just one of the newest flavor trends hitting the c-store market. Brands like Hostess and Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream Co. are teaming up to create new ice cream flavors in varying sizes and prices that every shopper with a sweet tooth will want to purchase.

Exclusive products; in the past, brands such as Dippin’ Dots were only available at independent stores or inside of theme parks. Recently they have been partnering with retailers to offer a convenient pouch for customers to buy on-the-go. Serving items like this is sure to grab customer’s attention and boost your overall frozen treat sales.

As convenience stores continue to offer more cold treats, frozen yogurt, gelato, and ice cream should be a top priority when stocking your freezers. Since c-stores often offer flexible and convenient hours, many customers will be coming in for late night cravings or a mid-day snack. Make sure you have the right brands, flavors, sizes, and trends that they are looking for to ensure profits in the frozen food category.