Topics: Marketing & Retail

Davis Travel Centers Gives Back

For Davis Travel Centers, which operates three locations in Virginia, community ties run deep. Every year, the staff and owners support a number of causes to benefit the local hospitals and schools. More

Why To Include Healthy Soups and Salads At Your Truckstop

Most locations are now offering some type of salad offering which has been a positive for sales and profitability. If you have not considered soups as part of your fresh food offering, it is time to do so. When it comes to soups it is important to keep a very open mind to what may sell in the ever changing food environment. Ongoing emphasis on healthful eating along with the rise of the fast-casual segment and retail prepared foods are both creating greater demand for soups and salads. The research firm Technomic reports that 54 percent of consumers purchase soup from a dining establishment at least once a week. More

Truckstop Travels: Simple Elegance Welcomes Customers at the Petro Fargo

I always enjoy visiting Petro Stopping Center #61 in Fargo, North Dakota, it reminds me of what is good about our industry and how focused operators can create a positive shopping experience for drivers of all types. More

Human Library Spotlight: Saving Time and Money with Company-Wide Electronic Payments

For business owners, switching to an electronic payroll system can save time and money by eliminating paper checks. “There is a lot of mess that goes along with that piece of paper. You have to do the paper stock, you have to do the check run, and then you have to do the reconciliation. Inevitably, there are always lost checks. That paper costs a lot of money—typically $2.50 in time, materials and money for each payroll check,” said Marty Faber with Brightwell Payments. “Although handing out paychecks is a time-honored tradition for many business owners, it is really the least effective way to do it.” More and more business are switching to direct deposit and placing money right in their employees’ checking accounts, but the challenge with getting to a 100 percent electronic payroll is that not every employee has a bank account. “There is a huge demographic of people in our industry who can’t get or don’t want a bank account,” Faber said. More

Human Library Spotlight: Capturing the Hot-Beverage Market At Your Truckstop

An attractive and well-stocked hot beverage program is a key offering for many truckstop and travel plaza customers. To capture sales, operators need to stay current on customer and design trends. During the Human Library at The NATSO Show, John Morris of S&D Coffee & Tea will meet with operators to discuss layout tips as well as what can maximize sales and cultivate loyalty. NATSO sat down with Morris to gain some insight into his expertise. More

Seven Tips to Make the Most of Your Marketing

Advertisements and marketing, when done right, is sure to boost profits. Done improperly, it is an net operating cost reducer, so you need to make sure you are doing it right. More

Human Library Spotlight: Digital Signage Creates Flexibility, Boosts Sales and Increases Profits

In today’s world, digital media is the norm. From sending and receiving email on a smart phone to accessing information on a tablet or a laptop, consumers are used to viewing their information on a screen. Retailers can use this trend to their advantage by using digital signage. Retailers both within the United States and abroad are embracing digital signage, ranging from digital menu boards and touch-screen menu boards to digital advertising. Not only does the signage provide an upscale, sleek appearance, it can allow truckstop and travel plaza operators to frequently change advertising and better target their customers, whether it is by the time of day, day of the week or the season. More

Human Library Spotlight: Focusing on Food Service

The food service industry is changing rapidly. Not only are there new competitors, existing competitors are improving their model. What’s more, today’s customers have different expectations than they have in the past. During The NATSO Show, operators can sit down with food service expert Ed Burcher to discuss the latest trends and how they can strengthen or grow their food service offerings. For over 34 years, Burcher has been providing food service solutions that grow sales and profits to well-known industry leaders, including Wawa, Petro-Canada and Neighbours. We asked Burcher to give us to share some of his insight ahead of the show. More

Truckstop Travels: Shoemaker’s Travel Plaza Greets Customers with Nostalgic Excellence

Walking into Shoemaker’s Travel Plaza in Lincoln, Nebraska, is certain to take you back to a time when fuel pumping equipment were a thing of beauty. At the location you’re greeted with an amazing collection of gasoline and diesel pumps along with a vast amount of other types of fuel industry memorabilia. More

Third Wave of Coffee

Throughout the month of December S&D Coffee & Tea shared on the "third wave of coffee". More

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