Convenience Matters

Trends related to oil supply and demand have enormous implications for the convenience and fuel retailing industry, whether it’s how changes in oil prices affect gas prices or consumer sentiment. API’s Chief Economist Dean Foreman shares insights into 2018 market dynamics and what they might mean for retailers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute

The 'C' in C-Store can stand for more than convenience. In this episode, it stands for community, caring, and children. Hear how getting involved with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals can benefit stores, the community and most importantly, kids. To learn more, get involved or to donate, please visit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.  Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Carolyn Schnare, Director of Strategic Initiatives, NACS

Convenience stores around the world eventually contend with the same regulations and challenges and while retailers in some countries are at one end of the spectrum, another is just getting started. Hear how to keep up with changing tides and what a big blue banana has to do with anything.

The International Consumer Electronics Show is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Hear what CES had on display from the latest trends in vehicles to technology and gadgets designed to make life more convenient.

Hawaii is a great place to visit and a great place to work, especially with Aloha Petroleum. Hear from their CEO as he talks about jobs, culture, community and spam croissants. Co-hosted by Jeff Lenard and Carolyn Schnare.

Emerging technologies are having profound effects on how we live, move and spend our time in cities, but also increasingly on urban form and development itself. Listen in as we discuss the secondary impacts of emerging technologies on urban design and transportation.

Convenience is generally a good thing, alleviating problems and saving time. Is a fully-automated store like Amazon Go a competitive threat to brick-and-mortar convenience stores or the way of the future?

Oil prices heavily influence the price of gasoline and diesel fuel at gas stations. How can you anticipate this to better serve your customers? 

Convenience stores in Europe differ from those in the United States in operations, look and feel, and foodservice. Hear from an expert in European retail as he details trends, best practices and cool ideas.

Chip Conley has disrupted the hospitality industry twice, most recently at Airbnb. Chip explains how companies can predict a new wave on the horizon and surf that wave to competitive advantage.

Convenience is in the eyes of the beholder and unless you retailers think ahead, those eyes will be looking elsewhere. With a strong strategy and embraced innovation, convenience stores can be the retail powerhouse of the future.

Polar opposite in their food preferences, this odd couple took a road trip to the Chicago NACS Show to sample convenience store food around the country. Frank likes healthy stuff, Al loves delicious stuff. Hear if they found items to match each one's criteria along the way.

Who can top having exactly what you need, exactly when you want it better than convenience stores? Hear how convenience retailers can own convenience, especially in the areas of food and beverages.

Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana in September 2017. The staff at Texas Food and Fuel Association (TFFA) and its members worked tirelessly for days and weeks to prepare and provide recovery resources for fuel retailers in Texas who suffered damages—as well as for communicating information about refining operations and fuel supply, since 32% of the U.S. refining capacity was knocked offline at the onset of the storm.

Hear from the leaders of the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) about issues important to the equipment industry, fuel retailers and general public customers. Topics covered include data security, fuel dispensing technology, international engagement, and consumer protections.

Whether looking at metrics, innovation or simply the impact on the community, RaceTrac Petroleum and Kwik Chek Food Stores are preeminent retailers in the communities they serve. We talk about their new initiatives and, more importantly, the trends driving decisions with RaceTrac Petroleum President Billy Milam and Kwik Chek Food Stores President and CEO Kevin Smartt.

The Internet of Things has taken over humanity and all those convenient devices and appliances can team up to take you out. Hear how to stay safe in this special Halloween episode of Convenience Kills, um...Matters.

William Shatner candidly talks with NACS' Henry Armour and Jeff Lenard about the convenience store industry image, stores of the future and the Prime Directive.

Michael Rogers, former Futurist-In-Residence for the New York Times and media-acclaimed journalist, looks into the future of personal and business technology and tells us what it means for convenience stores and their customers.

NACS and Keep America Beautiful are helping convenience stores learn to manage trash and improve recycling. Convenience stores are more than just "America’s Trash Cans," they can be valuable community environmental neighbors.