Convenience Matters

Smartphones have gone well beyond transforming how people communicate and share moments from their lives on social media – they are now transforming how people share things, whether renting homes, selling goods or even sharing cars. The allure to shared travel comes down to one central fact: the average vehicle is used about 5%, on average, each day. Will shared travel disrupt the market – and if so, who will lead this change? Smartphones have revolutionized how we use a variety of products. Can they also affect how we use our vehicles? The hosts will discuss the findings from a new Fuels Institute research paper. Co-hosts: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores; Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute

Convenience retailers are always looking for new products or concepts to delight their customers. Sometimes they are able to incorporate them into an existing business – and sometimes it leads to an entirely new business. Richard talks about how he finds new ideas and even new business opportunities, such as his new concept, the Bottle Shop.

Fuel dispensers have become one of many targets for thieves looking to steal credit and debit card information by “skimming,” an aggressive tactic used to illegally obtain consumer card data for fraudulent purposes. How real is the threat and what can you do to minimize it? A discussion about the threat that skimming poses to consumers and retailers and what is being done to mitigate risks. Host: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores

The convenience store industry is full of family businesses,whether multi-generational or a husband and wife team. The Hub Convenience Stores in North Dakota is one such family business and more – it is Jared and DeAnn Scheeler’s return to their hometown to build a new business. Jared and DeAnn talk about some of the unique elements of running a family business – especially when it’s a new concept in a new location.

The old mindset was to discourage teens from hanging out outside retail locations. But today a number of them encourage teens to come to their business — at any hour — so that they can be in a safe haven if they find themselves in a situation where they need help. Convenience stores are playing a role in helping young people find a safe place — and it is literally changing lives.

Convenience stores must be incredibly nimble to respond to customer demand, especially related to fresh and prepared food. In some cases, stores are evolving beyond their physical location with food trucks, like the pit beef concept that is drawing raves in the Columbia, MD, area.

From electric charging to ethanol to compressed natural gas and hydrogen, new fueling options continue to gain traction in the marketplace. As these and other new fueling options emerge as viable alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel fuel, it is critical that policymakers and industry leaders have access to the latest research related to consumer vehicles and the fuels that power them. Jay talks about his role in leading the Fuels Institute, which incorporates the perspective of interested stakeholders affected by this market, as well as his lengthy career in the convenience and fuels retailing industry, from his early days opening a store to his outreach during the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Five years ago, it was unusual to see fresh fruit in a convenience store. Today, it’s unusual to not see bananas and other healthy items in stores. Why the shift and what is the profile of the consumer demanding better-for-you options in convenience stores?

Can design make you thirsty or hungry? Don’t rule it out, because store design is one of the most critical elements in retail. And at convenience stores, design is even more critical because the experience has to be fast. We’ll talk about new design trends and how they vary around the world.

“Clerks” is the most famous example of a movie about convenience stores but they are the setting in a plenty of other movies. Why? Because convenience stores are where people gather and that moves along the narrative. An acclaimed article about the topic was in NACS Magazine, featuring an interview with 2016 Oscars host Chris Rock.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. We will never run out of it. But will we run our cars on it? There are a number of high-level initiatives that are seeking to make hydrogen-fueled vehicles a reality.

Working with the Partnership for a Healthier America, more than 1,000 convenience store locations across the country have committed to offering an expanded selection of fresher, healthier choices, helping jumpstart the industry’s efforts as they begin to focus on increasing access to more nutrition options.

Convenience stores sell 80% of the gas purchased in the country, but what will those vehicles look like in the coming years? You’ll hear about new vehicles and technologies that will shape the future automotive landscape with a report from the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Co-hosts: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores; John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Fuels Institute Guest: Donovan Woods, Director of Operations for the Fuels Institute

Whether it’s for food, fuel, drinks or snacks, about half of the U.S. population shops at a convenience store every day. On Convenience Matters, a weekly podcast brought to you by NACS, we’ll talk about what we see at stores and what the future may hold for our industry. Guests include industry leaders, partner organizations, celebrities, industry experts and convenience store fanatics. Hear unique approaches to current challenges facing the industry, inspiring personal stories, as well as best practices, tips, and trends. You’ll enjoy this podcast if you work in retail, supply products or services, are fascinated by the auto industry and the future of fueling and mobility or simply love convenience. Tune in each week to find out what’s happening as we advance convenience and fuel retailing.