Convenience Retailer

New product of the day—Talon Filtered Cigars

Talon Filtered Cigars are the first new product to be released by Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Lane in almost 20 years. Sold in both 20 cigar individual packs as well as larger boxes containing 10 separate individual packs, Talon Filtered Cigars are a delicious treat for any cigar lover. Talon Cigars are small in size, making them a perfect choice for a short, enjoyable smoke break. However, their small size does not make them small on flavor. Talon Cigars are currently being offered in vanilla, grape, sweet original, regular, silver and menthol varieties. A high quality product, made from 100 percent tobacco, Talon Filtered Cigars are manufactured in Tucker, Ga. Known for its superior line of high quality tobacco products, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Lane, markets a number of cigar brands on six continents, including Café Crème, Henri Wintermans Founder’s Blend, La Paz, Colts, Nobel Petit, Mercator and CAO. In addition, the company markets a wide variety of additional brands of pipe, fine cut and smokeless tobacco.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Lane
800.241.2038
www.st-group.com

In the news—Rochester City Council approves new zoning code targeting convenience stores

Beginning November 1, new convenience store in Rochester, NY will be forced to comply with a series of dramatic new zoning restrictions. This is the result of a 9-0 vote by the Rochester City Council, held earlier this week. New stores in the municipality will now be required to offer patrons a “full selection of food products including at least a variety of fresh produce.” In addition, stores will be restricted to selling either tobacco, alcohol or lottery, but no more than one of these categories of products. There are also new restrictions on where new stores can be located as well as hours of operation.

The goal of these new zoning restrictions is to limit the sale of alcohol, tobacco and lottery within Rochester city limits, but also to cut down on crime and promote public health. Those responsible for the restrictions state that it is not their goal to restrict development.

However, opponents of the new argue that the restriction of development is precisely what will occur as a result of this new zoning law. They argue that the law has a disproportionately negative impact on small independent retailers attempting to open new stores. Major retail chains already in operation will be largely unaffected by the changes.

In a statement criticizing the zoning restrictions, the New York Association of Convenience Stores said, “We acknowledge the legitimate concerns of law enforcement and community leaders about the frequency and severity of incidents in and around certain retail shops in the city. And we respect the city’s desire to regulate commerce and maintain order. But in our view, the overzealous restrictions set forth in these proposed amendments would unfairly constrain convenience store owners who are not part of the problem.”

Rochester’s amended retail zoning code can be read here.

*photo by Doug Kerr

Most Retailers Failing to Connect Online, Offline Shopping Experiences

A new study recently released by global interactive marketing provider ExactTarget found that more than half of America’s fastest growing retailers are missing opportunities to connect online and offline shopping experiences. ExactTarget’s research found that only 44 percent of brick and mortar stores connect with shoppers post-purchase via email, and, of those, only five percent personalize emails based on the in-store purchase.

This latest ExactTarget study tracked and analyzed brands’ engagement for 30 days post- purchase across email, mobile, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. Several key findings emerged. Of the surveyed brands who operate brick and mortar establishments, just 44 percent requested an email opt-in from customers at point of purchase. Only eight percent used in-store signage to promote their Twitter and Facebook communities, and just two percent used in-store signage to promote email or text message engagement.

Of those participating brands that operate e-commerce web sites, 51 percent sought customer feedback through Facebook, 22 percent sent emails to potential customers letting them know they had abandoned items in their virtual carts, and 21 percent sent personalized emails to customers after they made an online purchase.

“[ExactTarget’s research] shines a spotlight on the missed opportunities that even the fastest growing retailers experience as consumers continue to interact across online and offline channels,” said Tim Kopp, ExactTarget’s Chief Marketing Officer. “This new research provides retailers and all online marketers insight into opportunities to optimize touchpoints to build the most engaged and loyal subscribers, fans and followers.”

According to ExactTarget, nearly 70 percent of consumers have at some time made a purchase based on an email marketing message. The company also found that nearly a third (32 percent) of teens, ages 15-17, have made a purchase after receiving a marketing message on Facebook

ExactTarget is a leading global provider of email marketing and cross-channel interactive marketing software-as-a-service solutions that empower organizations of all sizes to communicate with their customers through email, mobile, social media and websites. ExactTarget’s powerful suite of integrated applications enable marketers to plan, automate, deliver and optimize data-driven interactive marketing and real-time communications to drive customer engagement, increase sales and improve return on marketing investment. To download the complimentary research, visit www.ExactTarget.com/RetailResearch.

Product of the Day—Tecate Adds "Carácter" to Symbolic Eagle with Revitalized Packaging

Celebrated Mexican beer brand Tecate recently revamped its primary and secondary packaging, including its iconic eagle logo. The new design completely aligns with similar new packaging recently introduced in Mexico, further emphasizing Tecate’s cross-border alignment.

“As a brand ‘con carácter,’ we’re committed to offering distributors and retailers a quality product that will not only stand out on their shelves but also reflect the boldness and masculinity of our U.S. Hispanic consumer,” said Felix Palau, Vice President of Marketing for the Tecate equity. “As Tecate’s brand packaging design partner, HMSDesign was instrumental in visually leveraging the characteristic black eagle to create an ownable ‘badge of value’ that is more recognizable, contemporary and dynamic than ever before.”  

The revitalized Tecate and Tecate Light packaging features a larger black eagle set against the vibrant red-and-gold and blue-and-silver backgrounds of the brand. One side of all cans prominently displays the brand’s icon, further showcasing its bold character. Additionally, the Tecate and Tecate Light brand names have been re-positioned on a dynamic horizontal plane for increased legibility and presence.

“We are long-term partners with the Tecate brand, and served as co-creators in identifying the key elements of the brand equity, creating a design solution that visually resonates with the consumer,” said Hugh Montgomery of HMSDesign. “As a master brewer, Heineken [parent company of Tecate] knows beer. As brand strategy consultants, we know how to leverage design to sell products in core markets.”

The new packaging will be featured in point-of-sale materials, including mail-in-rebates, price cards, pole-toppers and mass display pieces, designed to support the brand’s upcoming promotional efforts. Tecate has introduced commemorative packaging to support several of the its programs, such as championship boxing events and soccer promotions over the past few years. However, the last time that the brand equity redesigned its entire packaging line was in 2009.
Despite changes in packaging, Tecate and Tecate Light beer, themselves, remain unchanged. Consumers 21 and older across the country will continue to enjoy the same bold taste of Tecate and Tecate Light, which is characterized by a full essence and aroma derived from the natural ingredients used in its brewing process.

For more information on Tecate’s redesigned packaging, visit www.enjoyheinekenresponsibly.com

Congress extends E-Verify program through 2015

By Lucas Witman

Congress this week approved the extension of the federal E-Verify program for three years, through September 30, 2015. Originally established in the late 1990s and launched nationwide in 2003, E-Verify is a free Internet-based service through which employers can verify their employees’ legal right to work in this country. The program compares each employee’s I9 Employment Eligibility Form with U.S. government records in order to determine which individuals are working here illegally. E-Verify was set to expire at the end of this month

Currently, E-Verify is offered to employers on a voluntary basis nationally, but 19 states have passed legislation mandating that at least some employers there register for and use the program. In Arizona, the government mandates that all employers verify their employees’ legal right to work in the state through E-Verify. For proponents of the program, Arizona became a national model for the extension of the E-Verify mandate earlier this year when presidential candidate Mitt Romney singled out the law as an example of smart immigration enforcement. For Romney, who favors a federal law requiring all employers to use E-Verify, the program is a key element in his chosen immigration enforcement strategy of “self-deportation.” As undocumented immigrants find themselves unable to find work in the United States, Romney posits, they will return to their countries of origin.

Those in favor of E-Verify argue that it benefits states that mandate its use in a number of ways. Immigration reduction proponents NumbersUSA supports the mandatory use of E-Verify as an important way of ensuring that all companies are operating on a level playing field, and no individual company benefits from relatively inexpensive unauthorized labor. In addition, NumbersUSA argues that using the program actually protects the employer by ensuring that she or he is not in violation of laws that prohibit the hiring of undocumented immigrants.

Critics of E-Verify, however, point out a host of reasons why mandated use of the program is problematic. In an op/ed published by The Huffington Post, columnist David Bier argues that E-Verify has posed numerous problems to employers and authorized employees who use it. The biggest problem Bier points out is that it is the sole responsibility of the employees to prove their legal right to work in this country. When E-Verify identifies a discrepancy, the potential employee must expend her or his own time, money and resources to the task of proving her or his legal residency. Bier argues that although this may sound like a relatively minor concern, the number of legal U.S. workers who are not automatically cleared by E-Verify has been astronomical. One company he cites, Intel, originally had to clear 12 percent of its workforce who were not automatically given approval through E-Verify.

Finally, it is as yet unclear precisely how effective E-Verify is in actually stopping undocumented individuals from being hired in states where employers use it. Some reports state that more than half of undocumented immigrants vetted by the program are ultimately cleared to work.

New product of the day—Nectresse Natural No Calorie Sweetener

McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, the maker of Splenda® Sweeteners, recently launched Nectresse™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener, the only 100 percent natural, zero calorie per serving sweetener made from the goodness of real fruit. Nectresse derives its natural sweetness from the monk fruit, a small green melon that has been cultivated in Asia for hundreds of years. Found on lush vines in remote mountain regions, monk fruit is traditionally grown in small family orchards. Today, McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, has combined naturally sweet monk fruit extract with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners to bring consumers the rich sweet taste of sugar without all the calories. “Recognizing that many consumers like to sweeten with natural ingredients, we are pleased to provide them with another option to enjoy all the sweet things they love, while reducing the calories from sugar in their diet,” said Michael Conway, President of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC. Nectresse can also be used in cooking and baking to add natural, zero calorie sweetness to consumers’ favorite beverages, pies, salad dressings and even savory dishes.

McNeil Nutritionals, LLC
888.565.2229
www.nectresse.com

Cox Petrol Changing the Way Texas Drivers Shop for Fuel

New Texas-based chain Cox Petrol is challenging conventional models for how gasoline stations serve their customers, and, in conjunction with the launch of its brand, the company has introduced an accompanying website.

Cox Petrol’s concept was designed to provide customers with the absolute best possible fueling experience, by allowing the continuous introduction of unique, innovative new features and services, as they become available. The company’s overall goal is to constantly improve the fuel customer’s experience through a variety of new cost- and time-saving measures.

Showcasing the tag line, “Evolving the Fueling Experience,” Cox’ new website delivers on the Cox Petrol promise to make the gasoline-buying experience better for both customers and independent gas station owners. The website’s look mirrors that of the new stations and explains some of the aggressive operational and marketing plans that the company says are calculated in order to change the pump experience and help station owners increase sales and profits.

“We’ve designed the website to be as customer-friendly as our gasoline service stations,” said Michael Cox, Vice President of Sales for the Brand. “For consumers, buying gasoline is at best a chore that is often aggravated by fuel pumps and premises that are dirty and littered. At Cox, we’re making the gas buying experience pleasurable, with an approach that reveals the pride we have in our product and the focus we have on our customers.”

Two of the new programs that are being implemented under the Cox Petrol fueling concept are Fender Vendor™ and Cox Fuel Friends. Fender Vendor allows customers to purchase sodas at the fuel pump while they are filling up their cars and pay for all of their purchases with one swipe of their credit card. “You never even need to take young children out of their car seat,” Cox explained. Cox Fuel Friends is a frequent buyer program that allows customers to earn cents-per-gallon off on future purchases. Both Cox Fuel Friends and Fender Vendor are already available at all Cox locations.

The company’s new website is also home to the “Tank Talk Blog,” which will regularly update readers on store promotions and offer unique insights on topics such as gasoline prices, driving vacation ideas, tailgate parties, nutrition on the road and fuel efficiency.

Cox Petrol can currently be found at four Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q locations in Frisco, Allen, Denton and Arlington, Texas. However, these are just the first of more than 30 stations, which the company plans to convert over to its brand in the next 16 months. Learn more at www.coxpetrol.com

New product of the day—D&P Custom Lights ACLinx Modular Wiring Systems

D&P Custom Lights & Wiring Systems, Inc. is set to introduce its complete line of proprietary modular wiring components, ACLinx™ at the upcoming National Association of Convenience Stores show in Las Vegas this October. In addition, the company will be introducing its new Linx Power Pole Dancer. Linx will be representing D&P’s line of products and will perform regularly throughout the show.

The ACLinx Modular Wiring System allows retailers to configure multiple power distribution layouts for their stores without the use of costly electricians, reducing labor and installation costs for store remodels or reconfigurations.

ACLinx modular wiring works throughout the store, powering checkout registers, gondolas, coolers and other in-store stations and merchandisers, providing customers with coffee, hotdogs, nachos, hot and cold sandwiches, pastries and more. ACLinx components can be used anywhere power is required on the sales floor, and works in tandem with ground-fed connections as well as top-fed power pole connections.  

ACLinx wiring components can also be used to power stationary and portable coolers and other refrigeration units, keeping soft drinks, energy drinks, beer, and other beverages ice-cold year round. In addition, D&P’s modular wiring can easily power any LED or conventional lighted signage store-wide.  

When it is time to remodel or reconfigure the convenience store layout for seasonal displays, ACLinx quickly and easily allows your own personnel to connect and install ACLinx components in-store, without the use of specialized electrical labor. ACLinx connectors snap together quickly and easily, and are error-proof. And D&P provides detailed instruction manuals as well as training videos to ensure a problem-free installation from start to finish. 

All the connectors in the ACLinx system have been specially designed for ease of installation and safety. Not only are connectors color-coded by application to make installation a ‘snap’ (brown to brown, green to green, etc.) but the unique key-locking patterns mean no misconnects or rotations.  

The ACLinx Modular Wiring System includes components such as splitter modules, in-bound and out-bound power connectors, in-bound and out-bound power whips, and extender cables. All components are easily integrated with other industry-standard components.   

The modular system allows retailers to connect as many power boxes as they need, and ACLinx modular components work with any cable length to fit the specific needs of each store. The D&P in-house electrical design team will work together with retail store owners, franchisors, architects, designers, builders and contractors to develop a completely custom-tailored power distribution network to meet any retailer’s needs.     

D&P Custom Lights & Wiring Systems, Inc., founded in 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee, is a world leader in custom design for the commercial lighting and fixtures industry, specializing in the custom engineering and fabrication of checkout lights, pre-wired power poles, modular gondola electrical distribution systems and electrical signs. Visit www.dandpcustomlights.com for more information.

The NACS Show will be held between October 7 and 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees can visit D&P Custom Lights and Wiring and learn more about ACLinx at booth #645.

Critics howl as NYC enacts ban on jumbo-sized soft drinks

In a not unexpected decision, the New York City Board of Health moved last week to officially ban the sale of carbonated non-diet soft drinks and other sugary beverages in the city in sizes larger than 16 ounces. This means that the popular 20-24-ounce cups sold at many eateries as well as shared pitchers are soon to become a thing of the past. If it is not blocked by an appeals court (a move experts see as unlikely) the NYC soda ban is set to go into effect in March 2013.

Reactions to the NYC soda ban have been decidedly mixed, but a number of critics of the new law point out that it is still far too nebulous which drinks will be banned under the new requirements and which will be excused. Sugary coffee drinks, for example, could potentially receive an exemption if they are primarily made from milk or if consumer adds sweetener on his or her own. In addition, many have pointed out that regardless of the size of the cup a store or restaurant provides its patrons, there is no law prohibiting the customer from going back for refills.

Critics also point out the negative impact this law is almost sure to have on NYC businesses. For example, whereas drinks larger than 16-ounces are banned at restaurants, cafes, bars, delis and theaters, they will continue to be sold at grocery and convenience stores. Therefore, many who previously stopped at a local coffee shop for a morning sugar fix may simply be compelled to visit the 7-Eleven to fill up on soda.

Although few would argue that NYC and the rest of the country is not in the midst of a severe epidemic of obesity as well as obesity-related illness including heart disease and diabetes, many continue to be critical of the way in which state and local governments around the nation are working to create and enforce food and drink-related legislation. For example, Forbes Magazine contributor Nathan Sadeghi-Nejad wrote in an op/ed that although it is important to promote sensible portion sizes when it comes to sugary drinks, a beverage tax is a more sensible approach than an outright ban. Among other things, he argues, a soda tax would negatively influence someone who is choosing to circumvent the soda ban by simply purchasing two 16-ounce beverages, rather than a single 20+-ounce drink.

At the heart of the criticism directed at the NYC soda ban is the argument that it is not the role of the government to dictate what we can and can not eat or drink. “This restriction is insulting because it only makes sense if we think we need the government to tell us what and when and how much to drink. It is insulting because its premise is that we can't make up our minds for ourselves,” writes Alva Noë in an op/ed for NPR. “The mayor says the purpose here is not to ban soda, but to make people mindful of the dangers of obesity. As if people don't know that? As if we don't all know that thin is beautiful and positive and healthy and fat is dangerous and unsexy and negative? Thank you, Mr. Mayor!”

*photo by Travis Estell

New product of the day—Mr. Pink Ginseng Drink Caffeine-Free

Los Angeles based beverage company, Mr. Pink Collections, LLC, is introducing a caffeine-free line of premium Mr. Pink™ Ginseng Drinks. The new line of drinks, which come in a regular, sugar-free, and Liquid Gold version, have successfully been able to maintain the energizing capabilities and sweetly refreshing taste that characterizes the Original Mr. Pink ginseng drinks, while eliminating a caffeine stimulant altogether. The Mr. Pink caffeine free ginseng drink line is presented as a solution for those health-conscious individuals who desire a product that can provide them with sustained stamina without the use of caffeine or other potentially harmful additives.

Mr. Pink’s not-so-secret ingredient, and the force behind the drink’s powerful pick-me-up, is the addition of 1000 mg of the purest ginseng available. The ginseng in Mr. Pink is nearly four times the amount found in standard ginseng supplements and pills. For thousands of years, Asian cultures have utilized ginseng to boost immunity, increase longevity, and restore the body’s youthfulness. Categorized as an “adaptogen,” an herb that restores and rejuvenates the body, ginseng helps increase physical endurance, reduce fatigues, and mitigates the harmful effects of stress.

Each 12-ounce can of Mr. Pink contains only 75 calories and is blended with 100-percent of the Daily Value of vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12. The Sugar-Free Mr. Pink contains the same beneficial ingredients but with zero calories.

“Mr. Pink has always had the power to revitalize and invigorate both the body and mind because of the natural powers of the ginseng and essential B vitamins added, but now, Mr. Pink can do all of that, without caffeine too,” said Marty Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Mr. Pink Beverages. “We listen to our consumers when they voice their needs and concerns. The caffeine-free products were created to give those individuals who felt unsatisfied with beverages currently on the market something to be excited about.” Mr. Pink drinks directly reflects that growing desire from active people for a healthy power drink made up of quality ingredients with an ultra-premium taste.

Mr. Pink Ginseng Drink is currently available in retail locations throughout Southern California, but the company does have plans to expand to other markets. For more information on Mr. Pink, visit www.mrpinkbeverages.com.