Convenience Matters

A strong brand matches colors, words, emotions, beliefs, and attitudes to earn the customers that you want most. In this episode, the author of "Your Brand Sucks: How to Ignite a Brand that Doesn't," gives tips to create and nurture a successful brand. Related Links: Ernburn Brands Your Brand Sucks: How to Ignite a Brand That Doesn't NACS Marketing Leadership Program Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Di...

The global pandemic placed a new premium on physical health and safety and that's led to a rapid embrace of new mobile payment options. What can retailers and consumers do to ensure their own digital safety? Related Links: Conexxus Data Privacy Resources Conexxus Home Page Article: Is a Tailored Managed Fraud Service Right for Your Business? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiative...

Enough dancing around, it's time to look ahead at the future of cars because an electric reality is coming quickly - very quickly if you live in places that mandate it soon like the UK. We're talking about what the future might hold for cars, customers and travel. Related Links: The Future of the Car & Roadside Retail Shop Talk LIVE Global Convenience Store Focus Electric Vehicle Council NACS topi...

How did gas prices get where they are in 2021 and what are some long-term implications for where gasoline demand and prices are going over the next few years? All that and more on this week's episode. Related Links: NACS Fuels Resource Center  OPIS Blog OPIS Homepage Fuels Institute Report: Proposals to Ban the Sale of Combustion Engine Vehicles Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initia...

The Colonial Pipeline transports more than 100 million gallons of fuel each day from Houston, Texas, to the New York Harbor. Hear how refined product moves across this 5,500-mile system, and how it comes back online after a disaster strikes. Related Links: Interview with Daniel Gordon, VP & Chief Commercial Officer, Colonial Pipeline Company Consumer Energy Alliance Pipelines for America How Refin...

Engaging customers is something Disney and convenience stores have in common. A former Disney employee-turned-convenience retailer shares how c-store employees can delight and exceed customer expectations each day with positive experiences that build brand loyalty and repeat customers. Related Links: https://www.convenience.org/Topics/HumanResources https://www.convenience.org/events/HR-Forum http...

The Retailer Deep Dive series showcases industry leaders who are staying ahead of the ever-changing consumer and retail landscape. In this episode, Lonnie McQuirter of 36 Lyn Refuel Station shares how he relies on his NACS community to grow and how his Minneapolis community relies on him to thrive. Watch additional videos at convenience.org/36Lyn . Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic In...

With more people leaving their home kitchens and exploring new foods, convenience stores and restaurants are ready to re-capture customers. Mark DiDomenico of Datassential shares his insights on food and menu trends transpiring in 2021. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS About our Guest: Mark DiDomenico, Director, Customer...

Although environmental, social and governance (ESG) planning is voluntary, that could change with legislative efforts to drive greater sustainability programming in the future. What does this mean for convenience retailers as they consider how and when to implement ESG planning? Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, The Fuels Institute About our Guest: Jeff Hove, Vice President, The Fuel...

The great penny debate continues! Although many Americans support the penny, others say the currency doesn't make sense. Listen to our conversation with the co-directors of "Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?" for both sides of the debate. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Zach Edick and Jam...

The Retailer Deep Dive series showcases industry leaders who are leading the way by staying ahead of the ever-changing consumer and retail landscape. In this episode, Rachel Krupa at NYC's The Goods Mart shares some ideas that helped her business survive and thrive during the difficult year that was 2020. Watch additional videos at convenience.org/thegoodsmart . Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Directo...

From climate change to taxes, NACS lobbyists highlight some of the top industry issues already taking shape in the new 117th Congress. Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS About our Guests: Paige Anderson, Director of Government Relations, NACS and Jon Taets, Director of Government Relations, NACS In their roles of Directors...

From electric vehicle policy to emissions regulations, what will fuel travel look like in 2021? What will the incoming Biden Administration mean for travel and for vehicle sales in the U.S.? Hosted by: Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute About our Guest: Dave Ruisard, U.S. Products Editor, Argus Media From gasoline to resi...

Convenience store marketers and merchandisers have to be on their toes, especially this year. We talked with the legendary Derek Gaskins on his experiences in the industry, with the pandemic and what he thinks makes the c-store industry awesome. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Britt Brewer, Marketing Manager, NACS  

When it comes to food safety in convenience stores, retailers agree that it is not a competitive advantage. The host of the popular Risky or Not podcast series joins us today to talk about safe food handling practices for retailers. Hosted by: Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS and Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute

What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine deployment in the U.S. as it relates to essential convenience store front-line employees. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS About our Guests: Anna Ready-Blom, Director, Government Relations, NACS In her role of Director of Government Relations for NACS, Anna Read...

As President Joe Biden's Cabinet takes shape, we talk with the NACS lobbying team at how his picks might affect the convenience retailing industry. Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS  

Despite its challenges, 2020 forced retailers to accelerate innovation which resulted in positive changes quickly. In this episode, we will look at all retail and talk about which of those new technologies may stick around for a while. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

Chaos should not be what the "C" stands for in C-Store. Learn how to endure, survive and thrive in chaos as well as how to support your employees during their trying times. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS

Which vehicles will people be buying in 2021, what will they be doing and where will they be going with them? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute

Take a trip with us to Sweden to hear about Reitan Group convenience stores and their super fresh food, self checkout technology and cashierless stores. Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

Heroes can be everywhere - in stores, in homes, in schools - and now, more than ever, we need them. You can be someone's hero. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Britt Brewer, Marketing Manager, NACS

'Tis the season for big beverage sales for retailers and in this episode we're going to talk about trends in spirits, pre-mixed cocktails and consumption trends in 2020. Listen to learn one thing Americans have excelled at in 2020. Read the full IWSR full report. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS  

We reconnect with our NACS colleague, based in London, to find out what's new, different and growing in European convenience retail. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

The retail landscape is being increasingly disrupted by last mile fulfillment and convenience retail is no exception. Last mile fulfillment presents an opportunity to expand a store's sales reach while also introducing operational and implementation challenges. Download the free NACS research.   Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategis...