Convenience Matters

A look at the top 50 fuels retailers by efficiency—including sales at the pump and inside the store—and what you can learn from them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Brian Norris, Executive Director of Retail Fuels, OPIS Brian has been with OPIS for nearly 20 years. Over the last 13 years, Brian's focus has been ensuring the accuracy and integrity of OPIS retail pricing, margin, market sh...

When you talk to shoppers who seek out businesses, one unique advantage rises to the top — they want to shop at places that have a true understanding of the communities they serve. In other words, they act local. How can your business be seen as a community champion? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Erin Wroge, Senior Director of Energy Marketing at CHS Inc. (Cenex®) Erin is responsible for...

On June 10, 1964, a convenience store outside Denver sold 124 gallons of gas and ushered in the modern era of self-serve fueling. Today, c-stores sell that much gas every 0.02 seconds. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Roscoe, convenience industry icon John was named one of the "50 most influential people in convenience store industry" by Convenience Store News for good reason: He was i...

Every July 24, roughly 1 in 5 convenience stores—and a growing list of supplier partners—celebrate the heroes in their communities. The event, 24/7 Day, draws enormous media coverage and brand awareness for participating companies. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stephanie Sikorski, NACS VP Marketing, and Executive Director, NACS Foundation Stephanie leads the development of integrated mar...

Data shows that 9 in 10 people who work in local shops have experienced verbal abuse over the last year. The ASC's ShopKind program unites retailers to address these behaviors. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores (U.K.) James was appointed ACS chief executive in 2006. He has led ACS on political and policy representation, driven...

The 2024 NACS State of the Industry Summit delivered insights on c-store industry performance metrics. Hear how this year is shaping up and the tools you need to make data-driven decisions. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmental financi...

With 85% of the population saying they have low self confidence, odds are that at times, you may be one of them. Find out how you can break the cycle. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, keynote speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive...

Foodservice is growing at convenience stores and represents 30% of inside sales. Chef Joe Arvin shares how you can keep elevating your food offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Joe Arvin, Celebrity Chef Chef Joe Arvin is a two-time Culinary Federation gold medalist, three-time Chicago Fight Club champion, and finished 6th and 23rd place at The World Food Championships. He has also gained...

Brand positioning is a significant part of business because it's ultimately about how you communicate your offer to customers—and if it resonates. We'll share common pitfalls that businesses fall into and how to fix them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kathy Guzmán Galloway, Head Wizard, The Clarity Wizard With 20 years of CPG experience, Kathy has helped hundreds of organizations increas...

EV sales were down year over year Q1 of 2024, slowing a steep increase in sales over the past few years. We're discussing what drove this change and what it means for convenience retailers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading...

Culture is the cumulative effect of what people see, hear, experience and believe. In this episode we're breaking down how industry leaders can build a high-performance culture. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Mark Miller, Author and Co-Founder, Lead Every Day Mark is a seasoned business leader, a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, and a dynami...

Consumers are in a better—but not great—mood than a year ago. NACS surveyed consumers to capture their perceptions of convenience stores related to gas prices, crime and jobs. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam Rosenblatt is one of the nation's leading political consultants sought after for his ability to help clients achieve victory throu...

Are they convenience stores/gas stations that serve food, or restaurants that happen to have gas? A new book visually explores these community destinations. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Kate Medley, Photojournalist and Author of "Thank You Please Come Again" Kate Medley is a North Carolina-based visual journalist and filmmaker documenting the American South. Her latest book is "Thank Yo...

The convenience industry's foodservice future is bright thanks to its commitment to innovate. Hear how a regional distributor is working with a celebrity chef to elevate its offer. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Andrew Zimmern, Celebrity Chef Chef Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, writer and social justice advocate. A star of...

Convenience stores are integral to the communities they serve—for the products they sell and how they give back. Hear how one relationship ties mobility with a local need. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Renée Power, CMO/GM Mobility Marketing North America, Shell Renée is a natural collaborator with a track record of strong vision articulation, developing high-performing teams, and truste...

The April 8 solar eclipse is more than a once-in-a-lifetime event for tens of millions of Americans. It's also an opportunity for convenience stores that are in or near the path of totality. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guests: Leah Ash, Editor/Writer, NACS Leah joined NACS in 2023. She served in several editorial-related roles before joining NACS. Leah earned a B.A. in English from St. Aquina...

If there is one thing Americans can unite on, it's complaining about gasoline prices. NACS resources can help educate consumers about the industry and correct misperceptions. Hosted by: Chrissy Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard

What are your stores famous for? For HOP Shops, it's their disco bathrooms. The concept is so popular that a couple recently got married in one. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard   About our Guests: Ann Gilbert, Human Resources Manager & HOP Shops' Marketing Manager at Valor Oil As marketing manager for Valor Oil, Ann is responsible for the development and supervision of all marketing and communications stra...

There are upwards of 200 billion coupons issued in the United States every year, mostly paper. Digital coupons, called 8112s, are reshaping the coupon landscape. How can convenience retailers jump on the emerging opportunities? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Sam Jonas, CEO & Co-Founder, nData Services Sam is a 25-year entrepreneur with a focus in the payments industry. Today he is focused...

With increased costs and prices over the past few years, it's important for convenience retailers to communicate their offer and deliver value. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Leroy Kelsey, NACS Director, Research As director of NACS Research, Leroy is responsible for disseminating key industry metrics that empower convenience retailer and supplier members with the ab...

Pick a big moment in the convenience store industry's history and John Roscoe was there. He popularized many of the huge advances we see today in our industry and shares what he thinks is the path forward. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Roscoe, Convenience Industry Icon John Roscoe was named one of the 50 most influential people in the convenience store industry by Convenience Store...

The Big Game is the most watched event of the year and is a great forum for brands to showcase their latest offers. It's also a great forum to elevate important societal issues, like the fight against human trafficking. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Cheryl Csiky, Executive Director, IN OUR BACKYARD Cheryl is the executive director of IN OUR BACKYARD, a national anti-trafficking nonprofit...

The modern nicotine user is much different than a few years ago. With more options available, hear how consumer behaviors and expectations have changed. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Melissa Vonder Haar, Writer/Consultant, MelissaV Inc. Melissa has written about the convenience retailing industry for nearly two decades and has written numerous feature articles for NACS Magazine. In addit...

The early forecasts of the convenience retailing industry's 2023 performance are positive. Which trends stood out and what do preliminary numbers tell us about where the industry is heading in 2024? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmenta...

Electric vehicles may be the future, but that doesn't mean they don't have challenges today. Hear how Plaid Pantry is redefining EV charging at convenience stores. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Jonathan Polonsky, CEO, Plaid Pantry As the CEO of Plaid Pantry, a chain of convenience stores in the Pacific Northwest, Jonathan leads a team of over 700 employees across 106 locations, serving m...