Independent C-Stores Struggle to Compete with 7-Eleven

 

How can independent C-stores keep up with the grocerant niche fresh food fast undercurrent over flowing from 7-Eleven driven by customer consumption and adoption?  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated, “it’s not easy, however they must first simply follow the trends in foodservice and put their own local spin on it; that creates differentiation with a twist. After all differentiation in foodservice does not mean different, rather it means familiar but with a twist.”

In the case of technology, independent C-store must google 7-Eleven, for software that is like 7-Eleven, is expanding with for its new Mobile Checkout contactless shopping solution.  Don’t worry there will be a company out their filling the void with a product you too can license.

After all right now, 7-Eleven has Mobile Checkout available in more than 3,000 participating 7-Eleven locations in 31 states and Washington, D.C., The service allows 7-Eleven mobile app users to quickly scan items and pay for purchases without waiting in a checkout line. Here's how it works:

·         Download the 7-Eleven mobile app from the App Store or Google Play, or update the app to the latest version to ensure it has the Mobile Checkout capability.  

·         Register for or log into the 7Rewards loyalty program.

·         Open the app in a participating store and tap the "Mobile Checkout" icon on the homepage.  

·         Scan the barcode on each product to add it to the basket. Discounts or promotions will be applied automatically.

·         Pay for purchases in the app using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a debit or credit card. Customers can also pay with the 7-Eleven Wallet feature of the app.

·         Confirm purchase by scanning the on-screen QR code at the confirmation station before exiting the store or show it to a sales associate to confirm payment for the purchase.  

7-Eleven Digital Senior Vice President Raghu Mahadevan, stated, "After over a year of living through the pandemic, Americans have a new perception of what convenience looks like. For many, it's a contactless shopping experience without waiting in line," … "Luckily, we were already testing Mobile Checkout and had begun expanding 7NOW home delivery to hundreds of markets before lockdowns occurred. Now, we are accelerating the expansion of Mobile Checkout to ensure customers can shop at 7-Eleven the way they want to shop: safe and convenient. It's what people expect from the world's leading convenience store — we plan to exceed those expectations and take the in-store shopping experience to the next level."

7-Eleven is offering 10 times the 7Rewards loyalty program points for every purchase made using the new feature in the app for a limited time. Now how can they afford that?  That’s not the right question.  The question you should be asking yourself is; What is the Cost of New Customer Acquisition?  Your goal should be to acquire new customers.  The keep them for life.

While, 7-Eleven was the first convenience store chain to develop proprietary technology for a full frictionless shopping experience from start to finish. Mobile Checkout works on both Android and iOS devices and is available for most 7-Eleven merchandise that has a bar code. Some items still require cashier assistance, such as financial services and age-verified products like alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets. Don’t worry, search the internet you too can find a solution.  Help you store look more like tomorrow than like yesterday.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.