Topics: Great Ideas

Ten Ways to Get Customers to Come Inside From the Fuel Islands

To increase the likelihood that fueling customers will make the 100-foot trek into the main building from the gasoline islands, you need to be hitting on all cylinders when it comes to the fundamentals. Plus, try these additional 10 helpful hints to help increase the chances your gasoline customers will come in and buy. More

Take Advantage of Growing Frozen Yogurt Sales

As truckstops and travel plazas undergo change, many are finding themselves with empty offices and under utilized t.v. rooms and video arcade rooms. There are a number of ways you can use that space, but have you noticed the explosion of frozen yogurt? Crafted fresh frozen yogurt shops are popping up as quickly as Starbucks once did. You see them everywhere. Some of the more popular ones are Menchies, Red Mango, Pink Berry, Yogurt Land, Orange Leaf, Sweet Frog and of course TCBY—an old standard which has been given a new breath of life thanks to the craze. The statistics back it up. Take a gander at some of these statics from a recent research paper from Mintel. For the 2011-2013 period, frozen yogurt saw a whopping 74 percent increase in sales, growing to $486 million in 2013 from $279 million in 2011. “The expanding array of snack options, as well as a lack of product innovation, contributed to this performance," said Beth Bloom a food and drink analyst at the consumer research firm Mintel. "In contrast, the frozen yogurt segment has benefitted from a perfect storm of factors, including the growing popularity of yogurt among U.S consumers, the growing acceptance of frozen yogurt as a snack, and a perception of a higher health profile that coincides with increased attention placed on better-for-you products." More

Take Advantage of Growing Frozen Yogurt Sales

As truckstops and travel plazas undergo change, many are finding themselves with empty offices and under utilized t.v. rooms and video arcade rooms. There are a number of ways you can use that space, but have you noticed the explosion of frozen yogurt? Crafted fresh frozen yogurt shops are popping up as quickly as Starbucks once did. You see them everywhere. Some of the more popular ones are Menchies, Red Mango, Pink Berry, Yogurt Land, Orange Leaf, Sweet Frog and of course TCBY—an old standard which has been given a new breath of life thanks to the craze. The statistics back it up. Take a gander at some of these statics from a recent research paper from Mintel. For the 2011-2013 period, frozen yogurt saw a whopping 74 percent increase in sales, growing to $486 million in 2013 from $279 million in 2011. “The expanding array of snack options, as well as a lack of product innovation, contributed to this performance," said Beth Bloom a food and drink analyst at the consumer research firm Mintel. "In contrast, the frozen yogurt segment has benefitted from a perfect storm of factors, including the growing popularity of yogurt among U.S consumers, the growing acceptance of frozen yogurt as a snack, and a perception of a higher health profile that coincides with increased attention placed on better-for-you products." More

How to Calculate the Breakeven Point on a Truckstop Promotion

In honor of Thanksgiving and all of those Black Friday sales, today we are going to talk about promotions. Do you ever wonder if a promotion you run is profitable? Ever wonder if a promotional opportunity being offered by a vendor is going to drive sales and/or profitability? Do you wonder if you can you sell enough at the reduced price to make up for lost retail sales of profit margin dollars? I receive a lot of questions from NATSO members on this issue. This fall I was asked during a travel plaza visit by a perplexed operator, "How do I know if I am doing the right thing when discounting an item for a promotion"? To help shed some light on this quandary, I thought it would be helpful if I put together a worksheet on how to calculate the breakeven point. We've create a downloadable worksheet with formulas to calculate the breakeven point on a promotion. More

How to Calculate the Breakeven Point on a Truckstop Promotion

In honor of Thanksgiving and all of those Black Friday sales, today we are going to talk about promotions. Do you ever wonder if a promotion you run is profitable? Ever wonder if a promotional opportunity being offered by a vendor is going to drive sales and/or profitability? Do you wonder if you can you sell enough at the reduced price to make up for lost retail sales of profit margin dollars? I receive a lot of questions from NATSO members on this issue. This fall I was asked during a travel plaza visit by a perplexed operator, "How do I know if I am doing the right thing when discounting an item for a promotion"? To help shed some light on this quandary, I thought it would be helpful if I put together a worksheet on how to calculate the breakeven point. We've create a downloadable worksheet with formulas to calculate the breakeven point on a promotion. More

Top Reasons The NATSO Show is a Great Idea for Independent Operators

When you attend The NATSO Show, engage and take back and implement at least one idea, product or service back, the investment you made in travel, time and dollars, is returned in spades. That is true for any trade show, not just NATSO’s. Using what you’ve learned and implementing and executing it 100 percent properly will bring a long-lasting return on your initial investment. Winston Churchill said, “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” I agree, and as an operator within our industry, you need to attend The NATSO Show. When you attend you need to try, and when you try, you will unlock your potential. Here are the top reasons why The NATSO Show is a great idea for independent operators. More

Top Reasons The NATSO Show is a Great Idea for Independent Operators

When you attend The NATSO Show, engage and take back and implement at least one idea, product or service back, the investment you made in travel, time and dollars, is returned in spades. That is true for any trade show, not just NATSO’s. Using what you’ve learned and implementing and executing it 100 percent properly will bring a long-lasting return on your initial investment. Winston Churchill said, “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” I agree, and as an operator within our industry, you need to attend The NATSO Show. When you attend you need to try, and when you try, you will unlock your potential. Here are the top reasons why The NATSO Show is a great idea for independent operators. More

Essentials of Successful Truckstop Retail and Food Service Merchandising

We are seeing a lot of new independent and small regional operations coming into the market place. Additionally, many operators are expanding and/or remodeling their locations, specifically focusing on the retail and food segment areas. Read on for the 11 key essentials to keep top of mind when considering new operations and/or remodeling areas within your operation. More

How To Communicate With Cashiers And Front-Of-House Staff at Your Truckstop

During our recent visits to members in south Texas and Louisiana, we were frequently asked by members how best to communicate with cashiers. Creating a robust communication program takes time, energy and commitment. I’ll go ahead and list the 10 key communication vehicles that worked for me, but I would appreciate others adding to the list and sharing what works for them in the comments. More

How To Communicate With Cashiers And Front-Of-House Staff at Your Truckstop

During our recent visits to members in south Texas and Louisiana, we were frequently asked by members how best to communicate with cashiers. Creating a robust communication program takes time, energy and commitment. I’ll go ahead and list the 10 key communication vehicles that worked for me, but I would appreciate others adding to the list and sharing what works for them in the comments. More

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