Most grocery stores now have a self checkout lane. Shoppers who want to buy one or two things and be on there way can get in and out without getting stuck looking longingly at the lady with two carts full of monthly groceries, hoping she’ll let you go in front with your ice cream and US Weekly. The self checkout was like a stroke of genius. Now convenience stores are going to try and leverage the benefits.
This week Convenience Store News released highlights of their 2009 Forecast Study. The report provided a grim outlook for c-stores. The total number of stores declined by almost 700 since the beginning of the year and per-store unit volume is expected to decrease in candy/gum/mints and cigarettes. However, two facts offer some encouragement: consumers are driving fewer miles and stopping luxury spending, focusing on necessary items, and c-stores sell necessities.
Pan-Osten Utopia on c-store counter
Therefore, if the local c-store is closer than the grocery store and the c-store stocks my necessities, I may be more inclined to stop there for incidentals. 7-Eleven thinks that’s a safe bet and is even beefing up it’s line of private label products. Couple these facts with the convenience of self checkout and c-stores may be able to shore up enough profit for the storm. Self checkout also reduces labor costs according to Jenny Sheffield of Crossroads Market in Bowling Green, KY. Crossroads installed Pan-Ostens’ Utopia self checkout solution to speed up customer service and ultimately increase store profits. Pan-Osten explains that the Utopia self checkout solution is easy to install in a c-store environment without impacting decor. Adding this extra level of convenience makes it more likely that shoppers will pick up additional items as long as it doesn’t add much time to what they plan to be a short trip.
