LAS VEGAS -- Life on the road can be hard … and a heck of a lot of fun. And when it comes to the most anticipated convenience-store trade show of the year, it can be uber educational. Here’s a look at 10 things CSP Daily News’ editors learned, overheard and observed during the NACS Show today.
Don’t Get Pinched
Smaller retailers are more likely to be victims of data thieves who attack the computers inside point-of-sale (POS) registers than any other intrusion, according to data-breach investigator Kevin Thompson.
Community Notice
Nancy Caldarola of NACS CAFE recommended retailers let the community know they are a great solution for weekday dinners by dropping menus and special coupons off at area daycares. Likewise, become known as a better-for-you destination by sponsoring local 5Ks or other run/walks.
Seriously?
It’s estimated that 90% of all the world’s data was created in the last two years! So says futurist Ari Popper.
Root for the Home Team
Rachel Mehl, specialized category manager for Wallis Cos. shared how the company has a special "sports marketing" budget for special foodservice promotions around local teams, including the St. Louis Jazz and the Cardinals. A recent promo entailed 50-cent fountain drinks, frozen drinks and coffee drinks whenever the Cardinals scored "six." … Wallis also offered a free slice of pizza for anyone who downloaded the company’s mobile app.
Unimpressed
Guy in line for taxi: What’s it like to have 30,000 people descend on your city for three days? Cab-stand manager: It’s just another day in Las Vegas.
Penny for Your LCFS
While proponents of California's new low-carbon fuel standard regulations have argued that refiners will absorb any cost increases related to complying, Jay McKeeman of the California Independent Oil Marketers Association says this is already proving false. According to McKeeman, refiners have added a surcharge of 1/10th of 1 cent that covers administrative costs associated with managing the LCFS to marketers' fuel invoices.
Top That!
Four things Rutter's Food Stores has rolled out recently: walking tacos, cannoli, short ribs and pastrami. What do they have in common: four things that no competing QSRs are doing!
The Shape of Things to Come
Crazy shaped kids' foods are becoming passe, according to Annika Stensson of the National Restaurant Association. Kids will be kids, but you don’t need to make everything shaped like a dinosaur for kids to eat it anymore.
Happy Six Hours?
Happy hour at the Hard Rock Hotel bars is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. AND 4:00 to 7:00 a.m. Why not create your own "happy hour" at an odd time? Make it something tied to your brand, something that customers grow to learn and love.
Off the Clock
And speaking of happy hour, what kind of hotel ends room service at 1:00 p.m. (Cough-Flamingo-cough)!? That’s one foodservice operation that just lost the sale of a $19 cheeseburger (+$3.50 delivery fee, +tip).
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