ALTOONA, Pa. -- Sheetz Inc. recently completed a pilot program using Skyline Products' patent-pending PriceAdvantage software to help reduce costs and increase available customer selling time. Mark Wilson, director of store support for Sheetz, piloted the software in 10 stores and changed only two things, the tech firm said: the ability to manage and reset electronic price signs remotely from headquarters or from within the store, and the ability to remotely manage prices on the electronic price signs.
These two improvements translated into forecasted annual savings of $141,000 [image-nocss] in service maintenance, according to Skyline, and they will increase available store manager face time with customers by up to 50 hours annually per store, across 360 stores, it added.
"The software gave us all of that in a usable, understandable, teachable and trainable package," Wilson said. "The smarter the systems are that we place in the stores, the better information we have at headquarters. That's what we look for in technology today."
Plans at Sheetz include expanding the pilot program across all 360 stores and integrating technologies that will allow headquarters to remotely update fuel pricing in the field at the point of sale (POS), the pump and the Skyline Electronic Price Displayall from their desktop computer, laptop or handheld device. This is expected to make another $460,000 available to re-allocate, the company said.
Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Skyline Products is a developer, manufacturer and provider of hardware and software solutions that meet the pricing needs of the convenience store, truckstop and petroleum marketing industries. These solutions include electronic sign technology and centrally controlled fuel pricing software, and are used by major organizations including Kroger, Murphy Oil, QuikTrip, Sheetz, Casey's General Stores and HEB Grocery Stores.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz is one of America's fastest growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains, with more than $4.9 billion in revenue for 2008 and more than 13,000 employees. The company operates more than 360 convenience locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. All Sheetz convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.