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 […]
11-01-2018 Although there is no magic bullet for winning customers and increasing each transaction, truckstop and travel plaza operators said they are seeing tremendous success in certain categories, but what is […]
09-01-2018 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.
鈥淭he more creatively we can make the mix work, the better for us,鈥� Powell said.
Although convenience and time are always important, local customers love favorites while travelers like experiences. 鈥淚t’s my goal to create a mix,鈥� 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. 鈥淲e 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,鈥� said Elizabeth Waring, president of Busy Bee. 鈥淗owever, 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鈥攐r empty that.鈥�
07-01-2018 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.
03-01-2018 If you look over Guthrie Travel Center in Guthrie, Oklahoma, from left to right鈥攆rom the cooler to the coffee area鈥攜ou鈥檇 see they鈥檝e done a nice job highlighting their offerings with signage and that includes the movable placards over their coolers.
03-01-2018 Stocking the shelves with top-selling items can keep customers coming back and increase profits, but finding the hot items isn’t always easy. 黑料社区members told Stop Watch they turn to […]
06-30-2017 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 […]
11-01-2016 Even the busiest locations experience slow times of the day, and operators said they use those slow periods to prepare for peak times and get creative to boost business during […]
08-31-2016 All truckstop and travel plaza operators are working to get customers in the door and to the cash register, and a well-planned retail strategy can do just that. Yet all […]
06-30-2016 The majority of customers walk into a store either knowing exactly what they want or planning to look around. For retailers, that means they have two distinct customer types they need to cater to鈥攕hoppers and buyers. By understanding each group, truckstop operators can improve customer service, strategize promotions and improve their marketing, all of which can add up to increased profits.
03-01-2015 A subtle suggestion can add up to big sales for truckstop and travel plazas, and staff at Cash Magic Truck Plaza and Casino, which operates 22 locations, has turned suggestive selling into an art form.
01-01-2015