Topics: Marketing & Retail

Four Innovative Kiosks That Your Truckstop May Need

During my many travels to visit NATSO members, I’ve seen a lot of cool stuff at NATSO member truckstops. I’ve also seen a lot of cool stuff in many different retail and non-retail operations. One thing I have seen a lot of in the last two years—innovative kiosks and vending machines. Here are four great parking lot ideas that come from outside the industry. More

Do Coffee Drinkers Care About Sustainability?

This is naturally an important question, because as businesses and brands we want to create value for our customers. When it comes to sustainability, the research has been somewhat inconclusive. Consumers will say they value sustainability, particularly younger consumers, but that doesn’t always translate to purchase behavior. So, the question persists… do they care? More

From Oysters to Truckstops: A Conversation with James Bloodworth, General Manager of Acme Truck Stop

During the NATSO Show I had the opportunity to talk with James Bloodworth, general manager of Acme Truck Stop in Orlando, FL, about what inspires him in his work as a general manager. More

How to Create Easter Baskets for Your Truckstop

We’ve written many blog posts and Stop Watch magazine articles about the importance of tapping into the additional sales opportunities available during the holidays. Not only do locations see an increase in the number of four-wheeler passengers stopping in as they travel to be with friends and family, professional drivers are often on the look out for gifts for loved ones while they’re out on the road. I sat down with Thomas Petrauskas, manager of Greater Chicago Truck Plaza in Bolingbrook, Illinois, to learn how they take advantage of the Easter holiday by building custom Easter baskets. More

Does Your Truckstop’s Curb Messaging Drive Business?

Two thirds of customers will not come into your operation if the curb appeal is not positive and inviting. More

Three Tips to Get Quality Photos with Your Smartphone

With today’s social media marketing, it is easier than ever to post a picture of your daily special in your restaurant or a popular product from your bakery case. It is quick and convenient to snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet that you can quickly upload to Facebook or Instagram, but you still want to be sure you produce a quality image that conveys the right message to your audience. Remember, a bad photo can do more harm than good. More

Compliance Corner: Stay Current on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Requirements

Many of the convenience stores within truckstop and travel plaza redeem Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and those who accept SNAP will need to comply with forthcoming requirements that are designed to provide greater varieties of food and prohibit SNAP recipients from purchasing ineligible items. More

Truckstop One-Day Sale: What to Do Day Before, Day of and Day After

One-day sales can be a great way to add excitement to a truckstop and travel plaza locations and spike sales. During the most recent Operational Exchange phone call we discussed the role one-day sales can play during seasonal and/or holiday special events. After the call I received a handful of follow-up questions asking for more details on the concept of a one-day sale, which made me realize operators could use some standard operating procedure guidelines to follow when creating such an event. More

Best of Darren's Great Ideas for Independent Operators in 2015

Thanksgiving means pumpkin pie, time to give thanks and if we are lucky a trip out of town with family and friends. As Darren enjoys a much-deserved vacation, I thought I'd guest host with a round-up of his most popular blog posts. More

Know Your Truckstop’s Traffic

You need to start understanding your online traffic to understand your customer better and how to reach them. I was working with a member who wanted to use his website to reach more truck drivers. That sounded great, but there was a problem: when I looked at his website’s analytics (performance metrics), I found that his online customer is most likely not a truck driver. More

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