C-Store Growth

C-Store growth means better promotions take, staff work, and store profits. The growth occurs  by using analytics and AI technology. It reviews all sales detail from which opportunities are identified. For example, the analysis shows the actual take-rates as well as the stores and cashiers sales rankings. The simple list makes it easy to teach cashiers and fix the product placement at specific stores.  The program then identifies the things you need to do to increase your sales. Operators then use these specific items to start staff selling games, find  stores that are not selling enough and reward top staff.

Owners, as well as area and store managers save time when they have a short list of important work. That is, solving a problem is easier when the precise issue is clear. Having a list of work issues delivered with the supporting facts eliminates time waste. For example, knowing which cashiers are not having the same rate of upselling pinpoints who needs help. Likewise, seeing how two stores with similar traffic are not selling the same allows for a quick inspection to find the issue. The result is c-store growth when top managers focus on the most important sales items.

Image of successful store with happy staff runnign the store. Managers forget numbers to fix problems. Once the problem is identified they work on the root cause with actions they can control. Focusing on strong operations is the main influence to improve store operations

Managers Forget the Numbers to Fix Problems

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Store Manager Development
May 25, 2023 — 

Managers forget the numbers to fix problems. A store manager cannot make a customer buy anything. They can only address how the store operates. The key is store manager problem solving. They must manage staffing, stocking, inventory, finances, cleanliness, preparation and how the store operates. Their work directly influences the customer experience. Before they fix …

Image of Don Longo of CSNews at the Food Service Exchange.

Ten Things I Learned at the CSNews Convenience Food Service Exchange

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
May 8, 2023 — 

The presenters at a recent food-service-focused-c-store conference provided a unique perspective on their successes. C-Store operations have already or may soon become primarily focused on food service. The presenters included a single store operator, several top 10 chains, investment bankers, leading vendors and leading consultants in the convenience space. Here are the ten things I …

Image of store manager stretching and focusing. Store managers thrive when they practice the five keys to grow food sales.

Five Keys to Grow Food Sales

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices
April 10, 2023 — 

Surveys of c-store managers identify five keys to grow food sales.  Food service is critical to the future success of most c-stores. A strong store manager can typically thrive in a store with great food offers as many of the jobs are the same as non-food stores. However, there are key differences. Preparing and supporting …

Image of fresh pizza preparation for c-store food service. It is clear that there are five keys to grow food sales. C-store managers thrive when the keys are practiced well.

Management Keys for C-Store Food Service

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
February 5, 2023 — 

Management keys for c-store food service utilize existing store manager skills, but require a few important new skillsets to maximize results. C-store managers have a complex job and the demands on their skills continue to grow.  C-Store operations’ complexity has increased with a combination of new services, technology, marketing and staffing challenges. The expansion of …

Image of a local store in Kenya showing a distinct style or barnd with dapper young customers enjoying a pop. Store manager ROI strategy involves three components. Chain impact, store operations and chain support drive the return on store investments.

Store Manager ROI Strategy

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Focus - Accountability Principles | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
December 19, 2022 — 

Store manager ROI strategy involves three components. Financial impact, store operations and leadership development drive the return on investment. Some of the more obvious items that are considered that impact investment returns include the ability to increase store sales and improve store operations. The best way to measure and compare however, it not so obvious. …

image of store manager overload. A common issue with c-store management given the stress of staff hiring challenges and the need to focus on development and growth

Does Your Operations System Help Your C-Store Manager Support the Customer Experience?

C-Store Growth | C-Store Technology | Focus - Accountability Principles | Uncategorized
October 26, 2022 — 

With the big investments made into c-store technology, it is important to ask: Does your operations system help your c-store manager support the customer experience?  Too often, the store manager is given more responsibility without adequate system support for the daily operations. Store managers face challenging responsibilities and unprecedented staffing shortages. C-Store operations support systems …

image of Abigail Cerra who describes Abigail Cerra, ReFuel, share her experience regarding what she experienced as the keys to success for c-store loyalty systems.

7 Key Parts to C-Store Loyalty Systems

C-Store Growth | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Guest Columns | Scan Data & Loyalty Program
October 7, 2022 — 

Abigail Cerra, ReFuel, discusses 7 key parts to c-store loyalty systems. While the rollout of a loyalty system can be daunting, there are a set of things to consider that can be addressed to successfully achieve the customer loyalty implementation. Based on her experience of implementing several loyalty programs she identifies a few keys to …

Image of a road system so flexible and efficient it can be rolled out by hand. The metaphor shows the value of building A System to Develop C-Store Management to Drive Culture, Live the Brand and Create Growth requires discipline, process and consistency.

Building a System to Develop C-Store Management to Drive Culture, Live the Brand and Create Growth

C-Store Analytics & Scorecards | C-Store Growth | Focus - Accountability Principles
October 3, 2022 — 

Building a system to develop c-store management to drive culture, live the brand and create growth requires discipline, process and consistency. Establishing a culture where staff consistently deliver what you promise your customers provides value that generates customer loyalty. With consistent results, the compensation and job satisfaction are generated in the store that keep the …

Image of cashier using a POS system that meets the needs to an example of basic needs to future proof your convenience store POS System

Future Proof Your C-Store POS System

C-Store Growth | C-Store Technology | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability
May 26, 2022 — 

Future proof your c-store POS system with consideration of your growth plans. There are several stages of growth to consider. It takes time to choose, purchase and implement a POS system. Changing a system in the future can be very disruptive to your business in terms of store closures, staff training and integration with other …

Image of C-Store Growth Mindset book cover by Tom Bandy and Mason Cowan

C-Store Growth Mindset

C-Store Growth | C-Store News & Work Shops | C-Store Operations Best Practices | Focus - Accountability Principles
April 22, 2022 — 

C-Store Growth Mindset: Making Peace with Accountability Is Published The C-Store Growth Mindset book has been published. The findings are based on a decade of operations and a career of retail data analytics. It chronicles family chains that practice the growth mindset to grow their chain. BandyWorks’ Tom Bandy and Mason Cowan published field-proven case studies …

Image of new c-store built by Garrison in Amarillo Texas

Data Analytics for C-Store Growth – New Stores Versus Existing Stores

C-Store Control | C-Store Growth
November 7, 2021 — 

When thinking about data analytics for c-store growth – new stores versus existing stores, several key differences appear. Either way can be the key part of driving growth for many successful c-store chains. Using data differs for each type of growth. Choosing the right data leverages the growth investment to maximize the return on time …

image of hands on staff training to address C-Store Staff Retention

C-Store Staff Retention and Upselling

C-Store Growth | Managing C-Store Change & Accountability | Shrink & Loss Prevention
July 10, 2021 — 

Operators cannot ignore the labor shortage as they think about c-store staff retention and upselling. The shortage is so severe that many operators only part-jokingly say “If they are breathing, hire them.” All joking aside, the sentiment and frustration is real. Of course, many  important c-store selling opportunities are based on the cashiers work. For …