C-store retailers at the NAG 2023 Conference discussed the incorporation of technology, including POS systems, loyalty programs, and payment types in their stores. Retailers should take their time when implementing or upgrading technology to ensure everything is right before launching. Building political relationships is also crucial in the c-store industry, especially with the challenges faced on local, state, and federal levels. Retailers can build strong relationships by inviting local or state lawmakers to their stores and getting involved in their community. Once relationships are built, retailers should use social media, news, and even newspapers to get out a political message. The top five relevant keywords in the article are c-store, loyalty programs, payment systems, political relationships, and technology.
NAG Panelists Talk Tech and Political Relationships
The NAG 2023 Conference held in Austin, Texas on March 28 continued Tuesday afternoon with c-store retailers discussing the incorporation of different payment systems in their stores while also mentoring young leaders on how to build political relationships.
Next-Generation Technology
The third session of the day saw several speakers, including Abigail Cerra, senior innovation and brand marketing for Refuel Operating Co.; Denise Jenkins, vice president of marketing, insights and loyalty for United Dairy Farmers; Aaron McLean, chief marketing officer for Stuzo; and Lorraine Spadaro, chief information officer for Global Partners.
During the session, McClean asked various questions about how Jenkins, Cerra and Spadaro are bringing in or improving different forms of technology, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, loyalty programs, and payment systems into their c-stores.
Loyalty programs and payment systems have been successful in c-stores, and Cerra shared the impact Refuel’s loyalty program has had on its customers. “We relaunched our mobile app, and we also launched a new loyalty program that has had tremendous success with our members over the past six months,” said Cerra. “We were also able to condense the different POS systems we have.”
Jenkins agreed with Cerra’s views when it comes to rebranding loyalty programs. “We evolved our loyalty program to better meet the needs of our customers and what they were asking for from a loyalty program,” said Jenkins. “Now with U-Drive Plus, customers can not only redeem cents off per gallon at the pump but take advantage of member pricing.”
Spadaro added that Global Partners is also adopting new forms of technology to keep customers coming to its Alltown Fresh stores. “We launched a loyalty program called Alltown Neighborhood Perks. However, it was our focus on delivering new service styles that really drew in customers,” said Spadaro. “Adding self-check-out stations along with foodservice business is what’s keeping technology successful in our stores.”
McLean touched on how essential it is for customers to have these loyalty programs and self-check-out systems, but it’s equally important to ensure the technology works correctly. “Oftentimes, we focus on meeting the customer, and we can forget about focusing on how we can operationalize our programs effectively internally as well,” said McLean.
The panelists then discussed some critical factors when enhancing POS systems in their stores.
NAG Panelists Discuss Next-Generation Tech and Building Political Relationships
At the NAG 2023 Conference held in Austin, Texas on March 28, c-store retailers discussed incorporating various payment systems while mentoring young leaders on building political relationships.
Next-Generation Technology
The panelists, which included Abigail Cerra, senior innovation and brand marketing for Refuel Operating Co., Denise Jenkins, vice president of marketing, insights and loyalty for United Dairy Farmers, Aaron McLean, chief marketing officer for Stuzo, and Lorraine Spadaro, chief information officer for Global Partners, shared their insights on the incorporation and improvement of different technology in c-stores.
McLean stated that the point-of-sale (POS) system does not have to be the central point of the customer’s journey through the store. Instead, it can be a point-specific solution that enables the best possible customer experience.
The success of loyalty programs and payment systems in c-stores was also discussed. Cerra shared the impact Refuel’s loyalty program had on its customers, while Jenkins and Spadaro talked about their companies’ new loyalty programs and the importance of self-check-out stations.
The panelists also talked about important factors to consider when enhancing POS systems in stores.
Payment Types
When enhancing or upgrading payment types in c-stores, retailers should consider payment within a wallet, like Venmo and PayPal. Spadaro emphasized the importance of staying close to Google and Apple, while Jenkins noted the importance of investing in hardware and migrating to Apple technology for payment at the pump.
Overall, retailers should take their time when implementing or upgrading technology in c-stores to ensure everything is right before launching.
Building Political Relationships
During the YEO Breakout Session, Kyle May, director of external relations for R.J Reynolds, Liz Bradford, founder and president of Bradford Public Relations, and Kalen Frese, director of merchandising and foodservice for Warrenton Oil Co., shared their insights on building political relationships.
Retailers and young leaders should build political relationships to tackle the industry’s political challenges. According to Bradford, challenges could include tobacco sales bans resulting in decreased business and state regulations impacting fuel service costs.
The first step to building political relationships is addressing different people in politics by their title and last name. For example, retailers may refer to mayors, council members, and commissioners on the local level, senators, representatives, and governors on the state level, and congresswomen, congressmen, and the president on the federal level.
In conclusion, the incorporation of next-generation technology and building political relationships is crucial for the success of c-stores. Retailers should take their time when implementing technology and consider payment within a wallet, while building political relationships can help tackle the industry’s challenges.
Building Political Relationships in C-Stores
Retailers should take proactive steps to build political relationships by inviting local or state lawmakers to their stores. This is one of the best ways to start establishing political relationships, according to Liz Bradford, founder and president of Bradford Public Relations.
Retailers should also get involved in their community, attend council meetings, and sign up for representatives’ newsletters. They should make it known to political figures that they are paying attention as business owners.
Once retailers have built those relationships, they should put them to work by using social media, news, and even newspapers to get out a political message. According to Kyle May, director of external relations for R.J. Reynolds, using a story in the newspaper to draw attention to a political issue should mention the person’s name in the story to grab the attention of whoever is going through that story for the mayor or governor.
The NAG 2023 Conference ends on March 29, with a working breakfast session, a general session, and an Ideas boot camp. Building political relationships is crucial in the c-store industry, especially with the challenges faced on local, state, and federal levels. By taking these proactive steps, retailers can build strong relationships and put them to work for their business.
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