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Customize Your Metrics to Drive Performance at Your Truckstop

Metrics are a key component of gauging and improving performance, and truckstop and travel plaza operators often wonder what their stores should be doing based on a particular metric. An example of an often used metric that I was just asked about by an industry consultant and an unrelated individual travel center “what should I expect in retail sales for every gallon of diesel pumped? Well, you have to be careful when applying industry metrics to your specific operations. You’re not always comparing apples to apples and you could be underestimating the capability of what your store could do. More

Lucky Dueces Gets to Know its Customers

Roady’s Lucky Deuces Travel Plaza in Duson, Louisiana, is a unique location. The 6,500-square-foot location features a café, convenience store, small casino, fuel islands, truck repair shop and RV Park. It is tied to a casino and the location’s chief operator and owner, Manish Sthanki, knows how to draw in casino customers as well as drivers. More

Do Something Different with QSRs at Your Truckstop

Food sales at truckstops and travel plazas are a crucial profit center as well as a prime way to draw in travelers. We all know that both professional and passenger drivers like trusted names, and the right quick-service restaurant can also be a way to stand out. I encourage operators to look at the QSRs that are already along their routes and try something different. If you have the same food offerings as everyone else, you will be forced to compete on the price of fuel, but food can make you a destination. More

Penn 80’s Emphasis on Immediate Purchases Brings in Customers

Penn 80 Flying J in Milton, Pennsylvania, is a robust location that has placed an emphasis on the immediate, need-it-now purchases that come from shoppers on the go. Their slogan, “Refuel. Recharge. Reboot. Get Back on the Road,” rings true in the way products and offerings are positioned. Customers can find what they’re looking for and pass in and out of the location quickly. More

Position Changed. What Do We Do With The Employee?

Today Federated Insurance is sharing one of our “HR Questions of the Month” regarding employment-related practices liability issues. Question: We hired an employee last year. The company was looking for someone with a certain background. However, since then, our company has changed directions and will no longer require someone of this caliber. We will be keeping the position but changing the rate and experience to less than what the current employee is at. Can we terminate for these reasons? If not is there another way that we can handle this? More

NATSO Members Connect with Customers Through Signage

Signage is one of the most important tools to connect with customers. It not only attracts customers from the street and draws them into the location, but also communicates sales or promotions, spurs point-of-sale purchases and directs customers where to go. Signs are often the first introduction to your business, and if you aren’t featuring signage, you’re missing an opportunity. More

Stamart #5 in Fargo is a Treasure Trove for Customers

Stamart #5 in Fargo, North Dakota, knows who its customers are and creates exactly what they want. This is a special location and is like a treasure trove waiting to be explored. They have different and interesting types of merchandise at a good price, and they mix all of that with really good food offerings. More

Sit-Down and Enjoy a Meal at The Tennessean

Locals as well as hungry drivers can find a delicious meal at The Tennessean Truck Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, and if you won’t take my word for it, just check out their Google Reviews. More than 200 customers have taken the time to comment on the location, and most of them mention the delicious BBQ, cozy restaurant and great service. More

Catch the Hottest Food Trends During this Guided Walk During NATSO's Food and Fuel Study Tour

During NATSO’s Food and Fuel Tour 2017, July 18-20 in Chicago, attendees will get an in-depth look at two of the hottest food service locations in city, Revival Food Hall and Eataly, but even more learning opportunities exist during the trip. Darren Schulte, NATSO’s vice president of membership, and Ed Burcher, an industry leader principal at Burcher Consulting, will lead members on a self-guided walking tour of some of the most popular quick-service restaurants and grab-and-go spots in Chicago’s Loop area. Attendees will walk the locations at their leisure and take in the sites at these five innovative locations. More

Cimarron Travel Center’s Welcoming Atmosphere Attracts Guests

Cimarron Travel Center in Billings, Oklahoma, is a welcoming location, and its guests aren’t shy about sharing how much they love the stop. I’ve never seen more people submit pictures on the Google Maps site. Guests are especially excited about the location’s dog park and leave comments letting everyone know how great it is. More

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