Convenience Matters

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 Jamie Kovach, Directors, "Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?" Zach Edick and Jamie Kovach are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team based in Austin, Texas. The pair met in art school and have been working and creating together since. Zach has spent the last decade working as a director and cinematographer on various commercial, narrative, and music video projects. He recently co-directed “The Tacos of Texas,” a documentary mini-series produced by ITVS for PBS Digital Studios, and “Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?,” a feature documentary about coin production. Jamie received her MFA from the University of New Mexico i

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, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Chris Blasinsky, Content Strategist, NACS

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 of Government Relations for NACS, Paige Anderson and Jon Taets work to protect the best interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry before Congress and federal government agencies — especially against rules and regulations that can have a negative impact on business.

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 residual fuel oil to distillates to crude oil, David Ruisard has extensive experience in the US markets. He first became a market reporter when he joined Platts in 2001 as their US Gulf coast gasoline and distillates reporter. Before the oil markets, David was an award winning news reporter and is a proud graduate of Baylor University.

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 Ready-Blom works to protect the best interests of the convenience and fuel retailing industry before Congress and federal government agencies — especially against rules and regulations that can have a negative impact on business. Doug Kantor, Partner, Steptoe and Johnson, LLC Doug Kantor works in tandem with the NACS Government Relations team advocating for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. At Steptoe, Kantor provides governmental advocacy, strategic advice, and legal counseling services to a range of clients before the Congressional and Executive branch agencies, and he provides legal representation for clien

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 Strategist, NACS

90% of consumers support a nation-wide standard for age verification. NACS and Conexxus have developed a solution. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS

Where are people going and what are they doing in this next new normal? Finding that people make more purposeful store trips, do more outside activity and commute less, how can retailers adjust? Hosted by: Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute and Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS

Regulations are in place protecting consumer privacy. What do retailers need to know to protect - and remove - consumer information? Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS

Throughout the pandemic, c-stores have stayed open, implementing smart protections for customers and employees. While that may increase risk to COVID-19 related lawsuits, it protects human life, which is most important. Hosted by: Carolyn Schnare, Director Strategic Initiatives, NACS and Jeff Lenard, VP Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS