Whenever I tell retailers I’ve stepped into Angel Abcede’s old role as CSP’s technology editor, their answer is usually, “You have big shoes to fill”—and not just because he’s the life of the party at conferences.
After writing for CSP for more than 16 years, Angel offers an irreplaceable level of understanding and connection to the industry. He gives me a wide berth to make the tech section my own, but Angel, who is now reporting on tobacco, has already been an invaluable resource while I find my voice and focus.
Like Angel, most of CSP’s editorial team has been writing about c-stores for at least a decade, making me the youngest and greenest editor on the team. I’m also the only millennial editor with my own section. The full implication of this hit me the other day when I made a Harry Potter joke in a meeting and no one got it.
This is a big change in direction for our tech coverage, but it’s one that reflects the changes in store for the c-store industry. Online players such as giant Amazon and the nascent goPuff increasingly are invading the retail space. New payment systems are making credit cards obsolete as the industry grapples with Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) integration, skimming and swipe fees. And behind it all, electric vehicles and self-driving cars are picking up speed.
I hope to provide you with the insights you need to navigate the choppy waters of the future as I report on the real-world tech challenges of running a c-store.
In a sense, you’re along with me for the ride while I steer through this industry’s ebbs and flows. I look forward to discovering what lies ahead.
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