What do truck stops and convenience stores have in common? Both have been around since the first half of the twentieth century; both cater to the fast-casual, to-go market; and both have become staples of our everyday lives.
The business models are similar, too. Owners typically generate a high profit margin on products sold in their stores, while they break even on the gasoline purchase that brought the customer to their business in the first place. Moreover, truck stops and c-stores are always looking for ways to expand their services and capture a larger share of the marketplace. If you operate a truck stop or c-store, here are ten tips that will help you do just that.
1. Embrace the Coffee Craze
The craft coffee craze has been percolating for the past several years now. If you haven’t jumped on board the bandwagon, you really should. According to a July study from the food industry web site, Datassential, 56 percent of today’s coffee drinkers would visit a “craft coffee” shop and 22 percent already have. Switching to high-end, origin coffee, and replacing the glass pot with thermals are steps you can take to show your customers you aren’t just aware of the “revolutionary third wave of coffee”; you’re riding it.