YEO Conference Draws Next-Generation Leaders to the Boston Area

Editor’s Memo

For any questions about this issue or suggestions for future issues, please contact me at jlofstock@wtwhmedia.com.

Highlighting Our Shared Values

In her insightful and perceptive book “Radical Candor,” Kim Scott provides a step-by-step approach to building winning relationships and being an inspiring leader without losing your humanity or discarding the values that have shaped your life.

Great bosses across all facets of business have strong relationships with their employees, and Scott explains three principles for building better relationships with your team: Make the mission personal, get the job done and understand why the mission matters. When you relate to people on a personal level, share a core set of values and believe in what you do, great things will happen.

As we head to the NACS Show, something Scott wrote stood out to me. There is a chicken-and-egg interaction between our relationships and our responsibilities. “You can’t fulfi ll your responsibilities without good relationships, but the way in which you fulfi ll your responsibilities is integral to those relationships.”

This may sound obvious and intuitive in theory, but from a practical standpoint this is much harder to execute. The NACS Show is an excellent opportunity to work on your industry relationships, especially since you may be seeing partners in person for the fi rst time since the start of the pandemic. Scott said in these situations a rudimentary approach to building relationships is a good fi rst step. For example, earn the trust of your industry peers by connecting on a personal level. This can be something as simple as sharing a personal story or asking a heartfelt question. This creates a unique experience that emphasizes your personal values. Sharing your values and demonstrating that you practice what you preach is a highly effective way to earn the trust of your peers in the industry and the team you work with every day.

Bring that positive, can-do leadership to work each day and watch your team, and those whom you infl uence, soar.

When an organization and its leaders can create the right mindset within the leadership ranks, it helps drive collective organizational success by establishing a culture of accountability, while motivating your teams to deliver an outstanding guest experience, improved profi tability and overall superior results.

At the end of the day, leadership is a privilege. How we think about it and how we show up each day allows us to not only impact the success of the company we work for, but impact the lives of the team members who work with us side-by-side.

TRENDS, TRENDS AND MORE TRENDS

New products, innovative ideas and tracking the latest trends are the lifeblood of convenience retailers. The NACS Show is an excellent opportunity to learn about the next opportunity in your stores.

C-store customers will always be attracted to your core offering of great food and outstanding service, but it’s the cool new stuff that can help you stand out. Today’s customers are always on the move looking for the next best idea, from the newest phone apps to electric charging stations, or maybe they are simply infl uenced by your brand refresh and new digital signs. Stores that continue to evolve with healthier foods, LED menu boards and digital screens that greet customers by name and offer targeted promotions make customers feel welcome. In the battle to be the fi rst to market with new products, retailers face fi erce competition from other industry operators and cross-channel marketers. Despite the battle for that share of wallet, chains have come to depend on their distributors and wholesalers for the information they need to make smart business choices.

What is important for convenience store owners to note is that your wholesaler and supplier partners can’t make the decisions for you. No one knows your customers better than you. So as we look to the future, remember that the one edge this industry always maintains is convenience, and it’s a damn good one. As you walk the fl oor at NACS, think about your future and your customers, and what new ideas you can deliver to them to stand apart from the herd. Your customers will reward you with their loyal business.

John Lofstock

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YEO CONFERENCE DRAWS NEXT-GENERATION LEADERS TO THE BOSTON MARKET

Young executives gathered at Nouria for educational sessions and networking with peers.

A CStore Decisions Staff Report

The eighth annual Young Executives Or-

ganization Conference (YEO) took place at Nouria in Worcester, Mass., last month, drawing young executives and next-generation leaders for three days of networking, educational sessions, team-building projects and convenience store tours.

John Lofstock, executive director of the National Advisory Group (NAG), welcomed attendees to the event.

“I am very proud of the growth and response we are getting for YEO,” Lofstock said. “As the convenience store and petroleum industry continues to evolve, training the leaders of tomorrow is more important than ever before. To help young executives have a group that is solely focused on exchanging personal experiences with peers in their age group, the National Advisory Group (NAG) is proud to be investing in the future of YEO.”

“I’d like to thank Nouria for hosting this event,” added YEO Board Chairman Kalen Frese, director of merchandising and foodservice, Warrenton Oil. Co. “I’ve been coming (to YEO) since 2018. It’s by far my favorite associate group.”

Frese advised new attendees to take advantage of the networking opportunities and get to know the other attendees.

Joe Hamza, chief operating officer for Nouria, gave an overview and long-term outlook for the Worcester chain.

“We’re extremely honored to have you here today,” Hamza told attendees. “I want to thank John Petersen, John Lofstock and the NAG team for putting on this oneof-a-kind event in the industry.”

Hamza said he enjoyed seeing the industry’s nextgeneration leaders all in one place.

“Today’s leaders are driven by more than just the bottom line,” he said. “They are driven by a heightened sense of purpose, by equity, justice and community.”

IGNITING YOUR BRAND

In a session titled, “Perfecting Your Retail Brand,” Ernie Harker, president, Ernburn Brands, shared key takeaways on taking convenience store branding to the next level.

“I help organizations find their brand as fast as possible,” said Harker. “Not a brand that is just different. … Today brands need to elevate above differentiation to engagement.”

Harker shared examples of how branding can go wrong, and the four steps needed for brand development.

TECH APPROACH TO LABOR

In a session titled, “Integrating Technology into Labor Management,” Jeff Carpenter, director of education and training for Cliff’s Local Market, discussed how technology can aid retailers in today’s challenging labor market.

Carpenter shared a number of technological initiatives Cliff’s Local Market implemented over the past year in multiple areas of the store, ranging from store inspection to networking security to the application and onboarding process. Carpenter outlined lessons learned and how the various changes benefited the chain.

Jeff Carpenter, director of education and training, Cliff’s Local Market, discussed how technology can aid retailers in today’s challenging labor market. Ernie Harker, president, Ernburn Brands, shared key takeaways on taking convenience store branding to the next level.

LEADERSHIP & BREAKOUTS

In a workshop titled, “Building Leadership, Management and Accountability Systems,” Tom Bandy, founder and CEO, BandyWorks, shared insights on company culture and defining and implementing accountability.

Attendees broke into groups to discuss accountability strengths at their stores and the biggest needs when it comes to store manager development.

In the afternoon, attendees selected a breakout session to attend. Topics included foodservice, technology and labor management.

Tom Bandy, founder and CEO, BandyWorks, shared insights on company culture and defining and implementing accountability during a workshop on the first day of the conference.

Attendees enjoyed lunch on-site at Nouria. The day concluded with a dinner at The Mercantile restaurant in Worcester, Mass.

DEI IN THE WORKPLACE

On the second day of the conference, Jayson Council, principal, Adjaycent Consulting, led a workshop that discussed how c-stores can recruit, train and retain a new generation of employees, many of whom are entering the workforce for the first time.

The interactive session allowed attendees to think about what influences their retail culture, as well as realize how they represent intergenerational connectivity as young leaders, looking to the present and the future, while working with those who paved the way.

Council discussed the importance of healthy dialogue and transparent leadership, among other ideas. The session emphasized that what attracted employees to your business 10 years ago, may not be what attracts employees today. Creating a helpful and engaging environment where employees feel valued can aid recruiting.

YEO Conference attendees enjoyed an outdoor lunch at Nouria. Jayson Council, principal, Adjaycent Consulting, led a workshop that discussed the importance of recruiting and understanding new employees in the c-store space on day two of the conference.

C-STORE TOURS

The conference concluded with tours of local c-stores, including Nouria, Alltown Fresh, Cumberland Farms and Seasons Corner Market.

On the second day of the YEO Conference, attendees visited local convenience stores, including Alltown Fresh, where they had the chance to explore, sample food and ask questions about the retail business.