Kevin Walsh stared at the three cases of pomegranate energy drinks that had been sitting in his Survival Stop's back room for six months. At $4.99 each, those 72 cans represented nearly $360 in tied-up cash—money that could've been invested in products customers actually wanted.
When Jake Morrison became assistant manager at Survival Stop, he thought inventory management meant keeping shelves full. Boy, was he wrong! His first week, they ran out of energy drinks during morning rush and had expired yogurt in the cooler.
At 2:17 AM, with a crying baby and an empty formula container, panic set in. My wife was out of town, stores were closed, but Google Maps showed a 24-hour convenience store nearby. That late-night lifesaver had everything I needed.
At 2:17 AM, with a crying baby and an empty formula container, panic set in. My wife was out of town, stores were closed, but Google Maps showed a 24-hour convenience store nearby. That late-night lifesaver had everything I needed.
Kevin Walsh stared at the three cases of pomegranate energy drinks that had been sitting in his Survival Stop's back room for six months. At $4.99 each, those 72 cans represented nearly $360 in tied-up cash—money that could've been invested in products customers actually wanted.
When Jake Morrison became assistant manager at Survival Stop, he thought inventory management meant keeping shelves full. Boy, was he wrong! His first week, they ran out of energy drinks during morning rush and had expired yogurt in the cooler.
It's 7:23 AM. A regular customer storms in, desperate for their usual Monster Energy drink before a big presentation. You check the cooler. Empty. Their face drops. This moment—right here—is where legends are made. Most sales associates see this as a problem to survive.
The customer approaches the checkout counter, wallet already in hand, mind made up about their purchases. Or so they think. Then their eyes catch sight of those perfectly positioned beef jerky sticks. Into the basket it goes—an unplanned purchase that just boosted the store's transaction by 35%.
The morning shift drags in one by one, shoulders slumped, barely mumbling "morning" before shuffling to their stations. Across town, another convenience store hums with activity.
Picture this: a customer strolls up to the counter, coffee in hand, eyes flicking to the tobacco shelf behind the register. With a friendly smile, she asks for a pack of Marlboro Lights. But the sales associate's heart sinks as they see the empty spot where those cigarettes should be.
In the fast-paced world of convenience store retail, the role of a store manager is both demanding and rewarding. But what happens when you want to take that next step? When your eyes are set on the district manager's chair, your game changes entirely.
