Photo credit: Darren Schulte
More and more businesses are expanding their services and creeping into territory that was once served primarily by the truckstop and travel plaza industry. Throughout the year, Stop Watch is examining specific groups that are entering this space, including dealerships, carriers’ distribution centers and turnpikes, how they’re changing and what NATSO members need to know about the category. Visit www.natso.com/increasedcompetition to see all the articles.
Battling Big Box Retailers
Big box stores are working to create greater convenience for shoppers and finding ways to get shoppers to buy something they didn’t traditionally buy at the location. That strategy could attract truckstop and travel plaza customers, cutting into sales at NATSO member locations, said Darren Schulte, vice president of membership for NATSO.
“This isn’t necessarily anything new, but big box retailers are increasingly selling products that traditionally belonged in other areas,” Schulte said. “They’re trying to get that customer who may have been one of our customers...”