According to the National Associations of Convenience Stores, also known as NACS, there are over 145,000 gas stations in the United States. Approximately 127,588 of these are convenience stores with one or more gas pumps. With so much competition out there, what can you do to make your gas station stand out from the competition? Check out these tips from a petroleum service company in Central Texas regarding what makes a good gas station.
Gas stations are like any other business; choosing the right real estate to build a gas station is essential. You will want to be located in an area with a high volume of passing traffic. If you talk to a petroleum service company in Central Texas, they will tell you that there is a science behind choosing the right location for a gas station. Of course, factors such as lot size, the demographics of the people living there, and the amount of traffic play a part. However, there is one fact that might surprise you! According to NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives, Jeff Lenard, if a gas station is located on a 4-way intersection, the premium placement is the corner on the right after the light. The reason for this is twofold. Drivers statistically don’t like to make left-hand turns, and they will also want to get past the lights before pulling in to fuel up! How does your gas station’s location measure up?
Once the correct location is secured, the next step is the proper construction. You can’t just hire any old contractor to build a gas station; it takes an experienced petroleum service company in Central Texas to get it right. The right contractor will have the skills and experience to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget. Did you know that PumpTex offers A/B construction services? Our licensed technicians offer a range of construction services to meet your needs, no matter how big or small your project is. This includes services like dispenser installation, sump & spill bucket replacement, line repairs, entry boot replacement, and sump repairs.
When it comes to running a gas station, the majority of profits don’t actually come from selling gas. Statistics show that they make more money when fuel prices drop than when prices rise. Most of the profit comes from the additional convenient items sold in the store, including things like coffee, sunglasses, snacks, lottery tickets, and tobacco products. Thanks to recent technological innovations, which we will discuss below, it is easier than ever to upsell items while your customers pump their gas. For example, the Wayne Anthem UX can offer unique personalized promotions on the screen to help drive additional sales. Talk to your petroleum service company in Central Texas for more information.
One of the ways that you can make sure your gas station stands out above some of the others in town is to ensure that you are on the cutting edge of the latest technologies. Consumers want the security and convenience that the newest fuel dispensers offer. For example, in April 2021, credit card payments had a significant liability shift. Gas pumps and POS systems that do not use EMV technology are more vulnerable to fraud, so any gas station not using this technology is now liable for the cost of recovering any fraudulent payments. This used to fall on the credit card issuer but is now the responsibility of the gas station owner. If your pumps are not set up for EMV payments, consumers may be put off.
Similarly, today’s consumers want convenience when they pay at the pump. You will want to ensure you accept Apple Pay and contactless payments. Modern equipment will also make your gas station forecourt more attractive to customers. Ask your petroleum service company in Central Texas to guide you through the different fuel dispensers and POS systems you might want to incorporate into your gas station.
We Keep You Pumping!
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PumpTex, Inc. was founded in 1997 in the back of a garage with the dream of bringing a new level of customer service to the retail petroleum service industry. Over the years, we have grown to become a valuable resource to our customers. Many consider us to be the first responders of the retail petroleum service industry!
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We search for the “WOW” moment in each and every customer interaction. Our team is known in the industry to have the best customer service and follow-up in our industry.
As a team, we also work intelligently to provide a valuable and tailored experience to each of our customers. We derive a great sense of pride from engaging our customers in a professional relationship.
Any client, vendor or media provider interacting with PumpTex discerns that our unique culture and operating practices separate us from our competitors and are drawn to our way of doing business.
We offer real-time solutions to the problems our clients experience. Being a resource to our customers and becoming their eyes and ears in the field enables them to maximize uptime and profits.