Topics: Merchandise

Dodge City Petro Travel Center Collaborates with Vendors to Grow Their Business

Dodge City Petro Travel Center Collaborates with Vendors to Grow Their Business Members Only Join or Login

Keith Wade, vice president of operations with Dodge City Travel Center, embarked on a 10,000-squarefoot reset at the Hanceville, Alabama location. Wade worked with Tony Pendleton, Lynco, and Joey Osteen, DAS, on the project. More

Gifts, Apparel and Pet Services Stand Out at Dukes Mount Vernon TA Express [Podcast]

Gifts, Apparel and Pet Services Stand Out at Dukes Mount Vernon TA Express [Podcast]

Listen to hear how this Texas-themed location blends a western-motif with a modern feel to make their stamp on the interstate. More

What Products Should Truckstops and Travel Centers Carry [Podcast]

What Products Should Truckstops and Travel Centers Carry [Podcast]

In this episode of NATSO's podcast, Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, uses his deep well of experience to answer product selection questions and more.  ​ More

From Staffing to Diesel Pumps: Ideas to Grow Your Travel Center Business [Podcast]

From Staffing to Diesel Pumps: Ideas to Grow Your Travel Center Business [Podcast]

Don Quinn, NATSO Service’s vice president, and Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, frequently consult for travel centers and truckstops. They help travel centers grow their business. Oftentimes, that means coming out and spending a few days onsite doing a complete evaluation, but it also means answering a lot of critical operational questions to help those expanding their travel center business or entering the market. In this episode, they explore some of the frequently asked questions they receive as they help those new to the industry. More

How to Create an Apparel Program at Your Truckstop Members Only Join or Login

Apparel is a category that does well in truckstops and travel plazas if operators understand who their customers are and purchase and present merchandise in the right way. “A strong apparel program is an opportunity to increase profits,” said Darren Schulte, vice president of membership for NATSO. “When done correctly in our industry, apparel can have margins of 50 to 100 percent profit depending on what types of products you’re selling and what you buy.” More

Truckstop Operators Use Varied Food and Offerings to Appeal to Travelers and Locals

Wendi Powell, co-owner of Big Boys Truck Stop in Kenley, North Carolina, knows that travel centers need to be all things to all people, and she tries to create solutions that appeal to all types of customers, whether they are locals, the traveling public or professional drivers. “The more creatively we can make the mix work, the better for us,” Powell said. Although convenience and time are always important, local customers love favorites while travelers like experiences. “It's my goal to create a mix,” Powell said. At Busy Bee, a regional chain of travel centers in Florida, local customers are in the store weekly and form close relationships with the locations and teams. “We see them coming in to not only to fill up their cars, but also meet daily/weekly needs from grocery items to our locally made cakes,” said Elizabeth Waring, president of Busy Bee. “However, with our traveling guests the needs slightly vary. When they stop in at our facility, they are there to fill a more immediate need. We have tried to build those relationships so that as they travel they look to us first to fill that—or empty that.” More

Attract Truckstop 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. More

Manage Unproductive Inventory at Your Truckstop [Infographic]

Inevitably some products within your inventory are going to move faster than others, but rather than letting items grow cobwebs, there are steps you can take to limit the impact unproductive inventory has on your bottom line. More

Increase Sales at Your Truckstop with Top-Selling Items Members Only Join or Login

Stocking the shelves with top-selling items can keep customers coming back and increase profits. More

Attract New Truckstop Customers to Boost Sales Members Only Join or Login

In today’s market, truckstops and travel plazas are facing increased competition on several fronts. Restaurants and retailers are adding fuel as well and charging stations for electric vehicles, and convenience stores are rolling out amazing grab-and-go food programs. At the same time, improved fuel mileage on ve¬hicles means customers don’t have to stop as often for fuel. In response, operators are stepping up their efforts to attract new customers while also increasing the conversion rate of fuel customers, getting them to come into the store. More

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