Starting this past February, Wawa become the latest national chain to offer mobile ordering options to their customers. The initial soft launch was localized to Philadelphia area locations while the service was tested. Earlier this month, the service became available to all Wawa locations.
Mobile ordering is nothing new, having been implemented by national chains such as Starbucks and Panera Bread. Indeed, dozens of large retails have some form of mobile ordering system, either for delivery or in-store pickup. The C-store industry, however, has been slow to adopt the technology.
It may sound surprising, but not all store owners have invested in a POS system. In fact, it’s estimated that many small business retailers have not invested in POS systems for their business, despite annual cost reductions of at least 10% after implementing them.
Believe it or not, but more American’s are increasingly selecting their preferred fuel provider based on the quality of the items INSIDE the store. This signals a change in mindset in the consumer, and should prompt swift action on the part of you, the provider.
Let’s talk about C-store data protection for a second. We’ve all heard of hackers and thieves preying on customers, but what is it they’re after? Credit card number? PINs? Passwords? The answer is “all of the above.” It seems that hackers and thieves will stop at nothing to get after your customer’s precious data.
Maintaining an active presence in your community is a smart play, no matter what kind of business you run. By connecting with your customers in a way that demonstrates care for their environment and respect for their values, you can create a positive environment for your business to thrive in.
The margin of error present for small businesses is very small. The constraint of a tight budget means that even the slightest of discrepancies can leave the planning in tatters. This is why businesses have to use as much protection as they can to achieve profitability. The profitability and performance of a business can be measured and compared through the use of different accounting ratios.
With summer right around the corner, C-store owners may notice a shift in their sales to accommodate the warmer weather. As customers gear up for road trips, C-stores are the perfect pit stop for snacks, fuel, and bathroom breaks, so it’s important to be prepared.
With fresh and nutritious options catching as much speed as they are in the convenience store world, as an owner, you’ve probably considered jumping on the train. One of the biggest challenges you’ll have to overcome is ensuring that your customers don’t meet any of the widely-feared food-borne illnesses.
Due to the switch to EVM cards (or “chip cards”), indoor credit card machines have become increasingly more secure. Unfortunately, the same is not true at the pump. ‘Skimming” has begun increasing in popularity over the last decade.
