ghra warehouse celebrates 3rd anniversarythank you for your support at our recent town hall...

February 2019

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GHRA WAREHOUSE CELEBRATES 3RDANNIVERSARY

In-Store Displays and their Benefits

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C-Store Sales Increased in 2018Page 14

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President’s Notes

GHRA BOARDOF DIRECTORS

Tajddin MominPresident

Firdous Ali Senior Vice President

Mubarak Dhukka Vice President

Nizarali Momin Honorary Secretary

Barkatali Momin Treasurer

Samer Ali Warehouse Chairman

Arifali Momin Director

Hussain Visnani Director

Imran Ali Director

Jamal Jivani Director

Shahid Maknojia Director

Moez Maredia Director

Noordin Maredia Director

Thank you for your support at our recent town hall meetings. As we come away from these meetings, my thoughts are centered on the amazing year we had here at GHRA in 2018 and the positive energy I feel going into 2019. WE made two very big announcements and we have already seen your overwhelming response in our sales. I know we will hit our targets because this community always rises up and beats the challenges placed before it.

Over the past year, we faced big changes, challenges, and even celebrated successes together. Through it all, I am reminded of the strength of our community, of the heartening range of human effort, and of the importance of enabling the never-ending pursuit of understanding. We learn as a culture, we learn as a community, and we learn as an individual. We are learning more and more about revenue opportunities through our warehouse and opportunities to close gaps in the supply chain and improve our bottom line. We are learning at a fast pace and as a result of our learning, our momentum is building and we have become the fasting growing grocery supplier of our kind in the U.S. Great opportunity lies ahead.

As we grow on the warehouse side of the business, we still need to keep our eye on our DSD programming. We are a mature business in this segment and we continue to provide our suppliers the best chance to sell their products in South Texas. Our spanners and posters are the best in the business and continue to attract manufacturers who want to connect with their customers in this market. Stay focused, support the programing and continue to build on this part of our business in 2019.

I look forward to the moments next year that will draw us together even more closely.

Dear Members,

Tajddin MominThank you for your continued support,

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In This IssuePresident's Notes ........................................... 2On My Mind ...................................................... 4Community ....................................................... 5Feature Story.................................................... 7Food Service ..................................................... 8Technology ........................................................ 9Human Resources ........................................10Safety .................................................................11Government Relations ...............................13Industry News ...............................................14Education.........................................................15Marketing ........................................................16New Member Introductions ....................17Cooler Reset Form .......................................18

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February 25, 2019 - March 1, 2019GHRA Warehouse Anniversary Event

March 26, 2019GHRA Annual General Body Meeting

October 30, 2019GHRA Tradeshow

Save the Date

Mark Your Calendars!

April 22, 2019GHRCF Golf TournamentFundraising Event -Registration is required

GHRA is off to a great start in 2019. I

want to personally thank our members for your attendance at the town hall meetings. The company made two big announcements at the meetings and members have

responded with action! Your warehouse and distribution center grew at a very

On My Mind

Bill PitoccoCEO

fast pace in January. The final numbers are not in as of this writing but January 2019 sales have way out paced January 2018 sales so far this year. Thank you. Thank you to all the members who have supported us from the beginning and thank you to all those members who continue to buy more month after month. I encourage everyone that hasn’t made the GHRA warehouse their primary supplier, to do so in Q1. Being part of the fastest growing convenience store wholesaler in the country is something to celebrate.

This month, we will hold a member appreciation event at your warehouse beginning February 25th through March 1st. On February 27th of that week, we will have a lunch in honor of our members which will be a great opportunity for comradery and fellowship. We have much to be proud of and we should spend some time together in celebration.

Lastly, we are planning our Annual General body meeting for March of 2019. We look forward to seeing you all there to continue sharing the great news of 2019.

Members are our mission!Thank you for your support. ■

The following is a paid advertisement

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Community

physiological high which is fundamentally the reason we keep going back to it; the more we get it, the more we want it. But being overly connected can cause psychological issues as well, such as distraction, narcissism, expectation of instant gratification, and potentially even depression.

Our days can become inundated by frivolous scrolling through endless social media feeds, responding to a constant stream of WhatsApp messages or wishing we were somewhere else, leading other more ‘interesting’ lives. “Don’t believe everything you read on social media,” a friend said to me the

How the Internet has changed usOur days can become inundated by frivolous scrolling through endless social media feeds, and responding to a constant stream of messages.

Our days can become inundated by frivolous scrolling through endless social media feeds, and responding to a constant stream of messages.Photo by: Tracy Le Blanc

The digital age has changed our lives in many parts of the world, inextricably tethering them to the Internet for the simplest to the most sophisticated of tasks. In the first of a new series of articles on how to use digital media safely, Altaf Jiwa outlines the role that the Internet and social media have come to play in our daily lives.

From finding our way to unknown destinations, to finding like-minded people, communities or untapped markets; digital platforms and applications have created a wealth of possibilities and conveniences for many. Google, Amazon,

By Altaf Jiwa | GLOBAL

Netflix, Uber — the list goes on and on. While this has in many ways simplified day-to-day life and created great advancement in fields such as education, healthcare, and business, it has not come without a cost. As Jerome Lawrence has said, “Progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it.”

How many of us start and end our days cradling a smartphone? That meal we’re about to eat, a concert or new city, that enviable relationship, some of us document every detail so that we can share it virtually. Experts say the social media ‘Like’ triggers a chemical reaction in the brain resulting in a real,

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other day. It’s true. Many of us are a little guilty of some creative license when it comes to crafting a particular version of ourselves and how we’d like the world to see us. The Internet has also democratised freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean every opinion is worthy of eyeballs. Who remembers the days before the Internet, when you had to pick up the telephone or write a letter to communicate? Now it seems amazing we survived those days (but we did).

In May 2018 I visited Lisbon, Portugal for the first time. Being a regular traveller, I thought there were some helpful tips that I could share with friends who would also be travelling to Lisbon in July for the first time for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration. So on the flight back home to Nairobi I wrote a few pointers and posted them on Facebook. The audience was limited; I had learned the value of privacy settings and the selective sharing of information many years ago, and that you didn’t always want ‘friends’ who may be a mix of close friends, family, acquaintances or business associates to necessarily know everything about you all the time. The morning after my return, my sister read me a few sentences from something she received on WhatsApp from a relative in Canada and asked if I had written it. I had.

Startlingly, it was the very same Facebook post that had somehow found its way from my Facebook feed into a message that was now being circulated on WhatsApp and email around the world. Over the coming weeks, that piece would be sent thousands of times amongst members of the global Jamat, all eager to find out more about planning their visits to Portugal. That’s the power of the digital age. While it can be useful, it can also be a means by which misinformation can spread easily and very fast. Knowing when to hit ‘forward’ or ‘delete’ is an acquired skill.

The Internet has shaken up so many parts of our lives but has also created a

lot of collateral damage, especially when it comes to privacy. We often don’t realise the magnitude of our digital footprint, even for the most vigilant. Try Googling yourself — you’ll be surprised at some of the forgotten content you may have posted in the past that turns up in the search results. Some commentators have claimed that companies such as Google and Facebook own endless amounts of data on each of us. This could include your location, gender, age, hobbies, career, interests, relationship status, possible weight, income, where you’ve been, everything you’ve ever searched for (or deleted), every website you’ve ever visited, every Google ad you’ve clicked on, bookmarks, emails, contacts, your Google Drive files, your YouTube viewing history, the photos you’ve taken on your phone, the businesses you’ve bought from, the music you listen to, the pages you’ve shared, and even how many steps you walk in a day.

Even though I have always been an advocate for digital advancement, of late I have begun to feel skeptical about it. How

do we take control of our digital lives in a way that does not encroach upon our own humanistic values? Most of us have been willing collaborators in letting technology into our lives and have given companies access to our data, allowing them to sell those insights and earn money from adverts in return for great tools and services.

But we need to strike a balance and be mindful of our own digital hygiene, or at least watch out for the pitfalls. How do we educate our elders to safely assimilate technology into their lives? How do we ensure our youth have the best possible chance at success without getting trapped in a vicious cycle of peer pressure, digital addiction, or unhealthy social influence? How do we safeguard that our children develop emotionally and psychologically, with the right balance of traditional and modern upbringing? These are all questions to which we need to search for answers. How we respond to the challenges of our digital future rests solely in our hands. ■

We often don’t realise the magnitude of our digital footprint, even for the most vigilant.Photo by: Markus Spiske

Community

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added in the coming months, increasing the total to five teams available to assist with store resets and new store set-up.

The GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center will introduce a Sales Team in the second half of 2019. The recommended planograms will allow GHRA the opportunity to leverage suppliers for additional funding. The Sales Team will work with Members to qualify them for these funds, as well as other avenues to increase sales and profit.

Please join the Board of Directors and GHRA staff on Wednesday, February 27th at the GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center, as we celebrate our accomplishments and show our appreciation to the GHRA Members.

(excluding tobacco and credit card purchases).

In conjunction with the financial rewards, and guided by our Mission Statement for continued process improvement, the GHRA Warehouse and Distribution Center wants to support Members in growing their store sales and profit through added value services.

Planograms are being developed specifically for GHRA Member stores. These planograms will help Members place items where they will attract the most attention and tempt customers to buy more. A well-designed planogram will boost sales, cut costs, and improve the consumer’s overall experience.

The planograms will also be utilized by the Store Reset team, which is being expanded in 2019. Two teams will be

It’s been three years since the red ribbon was cut and a large crowd of Members proudly entered the GHRA Warehouse

and Distribution Center for the first time. Since that day, so much has been

accomplished.GHRA warehouse accounts have

grown to 1,830 Members (91%), with 2/3 of those having purchased more than $10,000 of non-tobacco product in 2018. This resulted in sales growing 15% in 2018, compared to 2017.

Members are being rewarded for their loyalty. It was announced in the recent Town Hall meetings that an additional 2% rebate will be paid for 2018 purchases (excluding tobacco and credit card purchases). Also announced, the GHRA Board of Directors approved a 3% rebate for 2019 Quarter 1 purchases

Feature

Happy Anniversary!By Debbie Briese, GHRA Procurement & Marketing Manager

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Food Service

Big Madres Tacos Y TortasAre you our next franchisee?

Doug BooneGHRA Food Service Manager

With foodservice having

grown into one of the most valuable categories in the convenience store industry, it's no surprise that retailers continue to be enthusiastic about its future.

That’s the feedback we get right here in South Texas with your new Big Madre Tacos y Tortas locations. The first two location are up and running and our customer feedback is very positive. We get feedback all the time from customers saying “the flavor and quality of the food is amazing” says Jhoana Trillo of Time Maxx in Baytown Texas. From a business perspective, positive expectations for both dollar sales and unit volume are up with Big Madre Tacos y Tortas. Retailers who have brought in Big Madre ahead of its media plans say they are already

seeing positive growth in the business.In the larger U.S. market, 83 percent

of retailers say they expect their foodservice dollar sales per store to increase in 2019 (compared to 78 percent a year ago) and 78.7 percent saying they expect their unit volume to increase (compared to 77.4 percent a year ago). A miniscule 4.1 percent believe their foodservice dollar sales will decline and 3.1 percent believe their unit volume will decline, according to the results of the 2019 Convenience Store News Forecast Study. While c-store operators are largely unified in their sentiment about the foodservice category's future, they did cite a wide variety of trends that they expect to have a sizeable impact this year. Numerous retailers pointed to healthier options and items with clean-label attributes, such as GMO-free. Adding new menu items to cater to consumers' hunger for variety should boost both dollar sales and unit volume, according to some respondents.

One thing that is unique to the Big

Madre brand offering is the quality of food. As other retailers reconfigure their menus to accommodate for some of the new trends in the market, Big Madre won’t need to. “We are already ahead of the game because our food quality is higher than the traditional convenience channel” says Doug Boone, GHRA food service manager. “Starting at this level of quality was very smart and we are ahead of the game as a result”. Says Doug

The increasing acceptance of c-stores as a food destination and the availability of third-party delivery services are also positive indicators of category growth. Plus, having a regional branded operation helps to communicate a specific message to consumers. Branding a location with a brand like Big Madre’s Tacos y Tortas is a ground floor opportunity in Houston. Getting in now will position your store ahead of the aggressive media plan GHRA plans to roll out.

If you’re interested please contact Doug Boone today at 281-295-5300. ■


For Service Call: Inside Houston

Tastee Kreme Ice Cream713-290-0123

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Technology

HOUSTON — Motiva and technology company GetUpside are partnering with GasBuddy to allow customers to claim GetUpside personalized cash back offers directly through the GasBuddy mobile app.

Customers will earn as much as 25 cents per gallon cash back based on their fuel purchase.

To earn cash back, GasBuddy users must claim the offer, pay for their purchase using Pay with GasBuddy, a credit or debit card, and submit proof of purchase via the GasBuddy app.

Starting in early 2019, the GasBuddy app will display gas stations that participate in the GetUpside program.

"Making GetUpside offers available through the GasBuddy app will be a game changer for fuel retailers," said Jeff Rubin, Motiva's director of marketing and competitive intelligence. "GasBuddy's marketing reach and consumer influence

along with GetUpside's technology platform will attract measurable and proven incremental profit from GasBuddy app users."

Combining GasBuddy and GetUpside into a single consumer experience allows customers to see the true price at the pump and get the lowest price option, according to Motiva. The company announced plans to expand the GetUpside to the Texas market in October 2018, as Convenience Store News previously reported.

"We are excited to be part of the GetUpside program, and we believe that the partnership with GasBuddy will only further drive incremental business to our stations," said Max Alvarez, president of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors Inc. "We welcome Motiva as a partner with

Motiva Partners With GasBuddy to Further GetUpside Loyalty ProgramBy CS News, 1/2/19

GetUpside and recognize the value they bring by investing in cutting-edge technology to improve the customer's experience at the pump."

The GetUpside program is currently live in 30 markets in 13 states. Motiva and GetUpside plan to further expand the program to wholesalers across the entire United States in 2019.

Houston-based Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the U.S. Under exclusive, long-term brand licenses for the Shell and 76 brands, Motiva's marketing operations support more than 5,000 retail gasoline stations. ■


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of age discrimination by applying all expectations and treatments equivalently.

If you treat older employees differently, you do risk the potential of an age discrimination lawsuit, even if your intentions and actions were above reproach. Also, older employees are demonstrating a stronger inclination to sue in an employment environment that offers jobs that are primarily underpaid and service-type minimum wage occupations.

For older workers in this environment, jobs are hard to come by. It's a lot easier to make an employer pay; you never know how a jury will see your disciplinary actions or failure to hire. Don't leave the door open for an underserved problem.

Secondly, in you're hiring, remove any indicator of the age of the applicant from application materials you share with managers and staff involved in hiring. You don't want your managers subtly - and often with unawareness - discriminating about candidates selected for interviews.

With unemployment so high, and the possibility of lawsuits looming, make sure your employment relationships are non-discriminatory and impeccable. ■

Do You Discriminate Against Older Workers - Even Subtly?

With so many people unemployed worldwide, certain topics gain importance in the Human Resources world. From the perspective of the employer, the employee and the unemployed, you want to know how to avoid doing layoffs, how to hold on to the job you have, and how to overcome an employment gap when unemployment is stretching into months, and even years, for many.

We've been thinking about the unemployed millions a lot lately. One population that is experiencing special job searching problems in this environment is the older crowd. Given that "older" can mean as young as 40, that's quite a percentage of the unemployed millions. They fall into two age categories, Baby Boomers, and Generation X.

Generation Xers are people born between 1965 and 1976–1980, depending on the source. Gen Xers are independent, enjoy informality, are entrepreneurial, and seek emotional maturity. They want to build a repertoire of skills and experiences they can take with them if they need to, and they want their career path laid out in front of them – or they’ll walk.

Gen Xers also seek balance in their lives now – not when they retire. They seek time to raise their children and don’t want to miss a minute – as their parents, the Baby Boomers, did. Gen-Xers also want immediate and honest feedback. Increasingly as Baby Boomers retire, your older workers are Gen X.

Age Discrimination in Unemployment

We read recently that age discrimination lawsuits are up against employers over 18% - the fastest rising

Human Resources

By Susan M. Heathfield (Thebalancecareers.com)

of any discrimination lawsuit. At a time when many jobs are disappearing forever (think administrative assistants, receptionists, landline phone installers, postal service workers, agriculture workers, data entry operators, and assorted manufacturing jobs, to start), age is playing a role in whether Mary gets the job.

Age discrimination is illegal at any phase of the employment relationship including job postings, job descriptions, interviews, hiring, salaries, job assignments, merit increases, performance management and evaluation, training, disciplinary actions, promotions, demotions, benefits, employment termination, and layoffs.

Any action that an employer takes that adversely affects a disproportionate number of employees over age 40 is also age discrimination. You must take the age of the employees who experience the impact of any employment decision such as layoffs, demotions, and employment termination into consideration.

While most employers do not discriminate in their employment processes, a couple of reminders are in order. If an older employee is subject to performance coaching and disciplinary action because of performance, make sure you are applying the same requirements to all employees regardless of age.

If you document the performance of any employee, make sure you document the performance of all employees who perform that job. Eliminate the possibility

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Safety

By Kayla Matthews

Now is the time for occupational safety professionals to check that the safety and hygiene practices in place at their workplaces are compliant with regulatory bodies — like OSHA — and will safeguard workers' wellbeing.

Data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that workplace accidents show a prolonged downward trend, but that's no reason to get complacent. Here are five things safety managers should verify before 2019 arrives.

Equipment and behaviors to minimize falls Falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries. On January 17, 2017, OSHA enacted new rules regarding workplace surfaces and reducing falls as well as ways to prevent falls that happen when workers perform tasks at dangerous heights. One of those recent stipulations involves letting employers choose their fall protection systems by selecting from approved options. Plus, occupational safety personnel should remind workers to exercise caution on slick and wet surfaces, use signs to warn others of hazardous surfaces and employ handrails or floor mats to further reduce risks.A process for ill workers — especially those handling food When people come to work sick, they could make their colleagues and members of the public ill too. That risk is particularly apparent among food service workers. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 20 percent of workers completed at least one shift while experiencing vomiting

or diarrhea. They could pass their illnesses on to people they interact with on a given day as well as the individuals who eat the foods they serve. One of the best ways to discourage people from showing up sick is to create a procedure for them to follow for notifying supervisors of their illnesses so that those managers can find coverage when necessary. The Food and Drug Administration's Food Code stipulates that ill food service employees with certain symptoms must notify management.Reasonable access to restrooms Amazon recently came under fire after allegations that its employees urinated in bottles to boost their chances of meeting performance targets and not having to go to the faraway restrooms. Of course, Amazon denied that claim, asserting that all of its employees could easily access facility restrooms. Regardless of the legitimacy of the claim, the situation is a reminder that all companies must provide appropriate restroom access. For example, it's unlawful to make assembly line workers delay using the bathroom to keep productivity and safety levels high. As an alternative, the employees could tell line overseers that they need bathroom breaks. It's also crucial that there are enough restrooms to serve the number of employees at an organization. Otherwise, their level of access may be considered unreasonable due to lengthy wait times.

Protective respiratory equipment supplied to appropriate employees Millions of people who work in jobs associated with exposure to things that may impair breathing, such as gases, fumes, smoke and dust, wear respirators to stay safe and healthy at work. The respirators either remove contaminants from the air or provide air from a secondary source. Failing to provide equipment to the employees who need it is a way to risk violating OSHA regulations. If someone breaks compliance, penalties of up to $500,000 could result depending on the extent of the non-compliance.Awareness and education for seasonal dangers Seasonal dangers also exist that could pose safety risks. Fortunately, OSHA regularly issues updates to provide the necessary guidance, just as the organization did during hurricane season to give recommendations for blue roofs, or the practice of installing blue tarps over the affected areas of buildings with damaged roofs.

5 safety and hygiene practices to double-check before 2019

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If workers have to endure extreme temperatures, employee safety means considering how to keep workers protected from the elements, such as by requiring them to wear clothes to protect them from frostbite during the winter or staying adequately hydrated during intensely hot days.

Fatigue can also be a workplace danger, especially during the busiest seasons of a year. A stockroom employee might work overtime at a retail facility during the holiday season and find that tiredness increases their risk of accidents. Statistics from a National Safety Council survey found that 90 percent

of employers recognize that fatigue impacts their organizations. Most workers feel tired at work, but less than three-quarters of them see fatigue as a safety risk. Fatigue is not only a risk during busy periods, of course, but organizations must be exceptionally aware of it during such times. ■


Safety

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Government Relations

Austin, Texas – While the blustery chill of February weather continues, government action regarding tobacco products is heating up. Both the state Capitol in Austin and federal bureaucracy are moving against products sold in convenience stores every day. First, on the state level, note the following examples of legislation that have been filed for deliberation soon in legislative committees: Tax Increase. Democrat

Representative Shawn Thierry filed a bill that would increase the tax rate on cigarettes and distribute that new revenue to public school districts (HB 627).

Purchase Age Increase. Senator Joan Huffman and Representative John Zerwas each authored a legislation that would prohibit the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to anyone younger than 21 years of age. The bills would also require retailers to view valid proof of identification of anyone younger than 30 years of age prior to purchasing such products in Texas (HB 749).

Financial Penalty. Democrat Representative Celia Israel filed a bill that would impose a financial fine on each occasion when a person holds a burning cigarette or smokes tobacco when a young child is present with that person in a vehicle (HB 900).

Second, on the federal level, the marketing and sale of vaping products are under scrutiny because of increased popularity and use by children, particularly teenagers. Two federal agencies are fully engaged:

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety of products.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which promotes consumer protection and prevents anticompetitive business practices.

The FDA Commissioner recently said that if companies continue to market e-cigarettes to minors, the federal government might remove the entire category of e-cigarette and vaping products from retailer shelves. The Commissioner testified that, “anecdotes from policymakers, from parents, and from the press suggested an alarming rise in youth use of e-cigarettes generally and, in particular, the product made by JUUL Labs. Indeed, the ubiquity of this one product became so entrenched so quickly that it gave rise to its own verb – juuling.” Underscoring his point, he added, “data from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey confirm that youth use of e-cigarettes has become an epidemic.” The Commissioner added the following data:

From 2017 to 2018, there was a 78% increase in current e-cigarette use among high school students and a 48% increase among middle school students. The total number of middle and high school students currently using e-cigarettes rose to 3.6 million — that’s 1.5 million more students using these products than the previous year. Additionally, more than a quarter (27.7 percent) of high school

current e-cigarette users are using the product regularly (on 20 or more days in the past month). And more than two-thirds (67.8 percent) are using flavored e-cigarettes.

The Commissioner then set out his bottom-line promise, asserting, “if the youth use continues to rise, and we see significant increases in use in 2019, on top of the dramatic rise in 2018, the entire category will face an existential threat.” So, retailers should remember to carefully check photo identifications to verify age of customers. The Texas Cigarette, E-Cigarette, and Tobacco Products Law requires tobacco retailers to ask for and view customer photo identifications to verify the age of purchasers appearing to be younger than 27 years of age. Any retail employee who sells cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products to a minor will face Class C misdemeanor criminal charges for sale to a minor. Additionally, the storeowner can be fined up to $1,000 or have their cigarette or tobacco products permits suspended.

As always, the GHRA will closely monitor new laws, policies, and other matters that are of interest to you. ■

Government Relations: News UpdateBy Steve Koebele – Attorney & Government Relations Counsel

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Industry News

C-Store Retailers Say Sales Increased in 2018

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Both fuels gallons and in-store sales increased in 2018, according to U.S. convenience store owners surveyed by NACS.

Overall, 84% of retailers say that in-store sales increased in 2018 and 62% report that fuels gallons sold increased.

Strong sales in 2018 are one reason for an increase in retailers’ optimism about business prospects for 2019: 85% of retailers are optimistic about their prospects for the first quarter, the highest measure of optimism for the first quarter in the past five years.

Above all, retailers say that the industry’s offer of convenience continues to resonate.

Convenience stores sell nearly 80% of the fuel purchased in the United States and conduct an estimated 165 million transactions a day, making the industry a good indicator for trends related to travel and consumer spending.

The strong in-store sales were led by

Adapted from NACS News article, January 04, 2019

foodservice growth and continued strong sales growth of better-for-you items (62% of retailers report sales increases).

Beverages were a big seller in 2018, with specialty beverages selling well and water and energy drinks pushing overall sales higher. Healthy food items also drove sales.

Some Concerns for 2019Retailers didn’t paint as rosy of a

picture about the overall economy: only 62% say that they are optimistic about the economy, the lowest percentage in 11 quarters.

Not unexpectedly, given the tight labor market, retailers say labor issues are the biggest threat to their businesses. Top concerns cited by retailers for 2019 are:

• Labor issues (59%)• Regulations/legislation (47%)• Economic concerns (41%)• Competition from other convenience

stores (39%)

• Competition from other formats (29%)

• Potential decrease in driving/increase in gas prices (19%)

Despite concerns, retailers remain upbeat that 2019 may be a repeat of 2018 for sales—as long as the economy stays relatively strong.

“In a booming economy, I see things continuing to trend upward. We offer great food, great customer service and a clean environment in which to shop. Most of all, customers appreciate us,” said Gay Simpson, with Dutchtown Tiger Mart Inc. (Baton Rouge, LA).

The quarterly NACS Retailer Sentiment Survey tracks retailer sentiment related to their businesses, the industry and the economy. A total of 72 member companies, representing a cumulative 3,885 stores, participated in the December 2018 survey. ■

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Education

When it comes to your c-store customers, what are you most grateful for? If you said “loyalty,” you’re on the right track. After all, you’ll spend six times more to attract a new customer than to keep an old one. It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out where your time and money are best spent. To earn loyalty from your customers, you have to work at it from many angles. Creating repeat customers is a process that should be ingrained in every aspect of your company, from your training programs to your marketing campaigns.

Customer Loyalty Starts on the Street

Loyalty goes both ways. If you’re going to expect your customers to be loyal to you, then you have to show them you’re loyal to them, too. This goes beyond just offering a great value. Everyone is looking for a deal, and with already tight margins on most of your products, it’s tough to compete. Outside of price, the most influential way to maintain a loyal customer base is through relationships. Many of your customers live or work in your general area. Find out what makes them tick, and show your customers

and trust. Take time to personally reach out to your customers and make them feel welcome in your store.

• Send thank you notes, real ones. When customers sign up to your loyalty program or achieve a certain level or reward, thank them the old-fashioned way.

People are naturally driven to reciprocate positive (and negative) behavior. If you’re good to your customers, they’ll be good to you. ■

you’re in tune with the needs of the neighborhood. Follow these street-smart tips to improve customer loyalty:

• Serve your community. Sponsor a school fundraiser, donate water for a local 5k event, or reach out to help those in need in your immediate neighborhood.

• Go beyond the suggestion box. Engage your customers in conversations about the products and services you offer.

• Create a focus group of your regular customers to test a new concept. Not only will this help your new idea be more successful, it will make your customers feel invested in your business.

• Get personal. People like doing business with people they know

Get Street Smart about Customer LoyaltyBy Ready Convenience


Featured Service Providers

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Marketing

In-Store Displays and their Benefits

Displays are a great way to present your

product and create a positive shopping experience for your consumers. Displays can drive unplanned merchandise sales by creating a visual of the

product and removing any unnecessary barriers during the customers shopping experience. If you were looking to clean, expand, relocate or add inventory to your current space, adding a display will be helpful in keeping your c-store organized with high-volume, high-margin, products that are properly displayed in the store.

Below are tips that can guide you and create an impact on maximizing your sales:

Focus on the layout of the store:It’s important to offer different focal

points in your c-store to attract the customer’s attention. Some retail stores face a common challenge of a cluttered layout. As inventory changes and develops according to the seasons, it’s difficult to keep everything organized and aligned. Take a brief moment to set a path for your customer through your store. The path should lead them to top selling items, trending items and any seasonal gear you have in your store. You can place close dated and clearance items near the focal point to maximize sales. Place displays to present versatile options while allowing your store to have a clean and organized look to grab the customer’s attention.

Focus on check out area:The checkout area where the cash

register is placed is an important space

Hamna SiddiqiGHRA Marketing Assistant

to utilize because that is the overall focal point of your c-store. Be sure the area is clear of any obstruction, the overall space is easily accessible and will get the customers attention. With the right display, you can maintain organization of the small, inexpensive novelty items customers impulsively purchase, gift items and items that might get lost in the aisle. One last thing to keep in mind is to keep enough space at the checkout counter for customers to lay their entire purchase down without mixing with displayed items.

GHRA Warehouse had a fantastic year in 2018 and we plan to exceed that this year in 2019. Be sure to check our weekly new items announcement in your e-mail to get insights on what’s new at the warehouse along with hot promotional items! Be sure to check the GHRA App for product updates and monthly deals! Stay tuned for more with GHRA! ■


Contact Scott LewisSales Manager

Mobile: 832.390.7308E-Mail: [email protected]

A WINNING COMBINATION!

WelcomeOn behalf of the board of directors and staff at GHRA,

please welcome our newest members as of February 2019:

New Member Introductions

Members

MID-TOWN FOOD MARTSMILEY'S EXPRESS # 10

MAVERICK MARKETCULLEN FOOD MART

MOULTAN MINI MARKETFAST RUN # 2

CHECKERS FOOD MARTFUEL MAXX # 30FUEL MAXX # 46

PEARLAND BUZZY BEE1488 SHELL

LIBERTY QUICK STOP

DIAMOND SWIFT1 STOP # 7

SHAVER FOOD STORERITESTOP

TIME MART # 26SWIFT MART


$1.89 Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream, Ruffles Queso, Smartfood White Cheddar*Place on All-In-One Rack*

17Vol. 6 Issue 2

New Member Introductions

All-in-one RackXXVL

Prepacked Weekender


18Vol. 6 Issue 2

GHRA Mem

Store Nam

Owner/Mg

Date

Signature

Total # NCB

ShelvesEnergy Tea Premium

Tea Isotonic DSD Water

Warehouse Water

Juice Drinks Juice Coffee Enhance

d WaterProtein /

MilkStore

OptionMy

Shelving Allocatio

ns:

Category Energy Tea Premium Tea Isotonic DSD

WaterWarehouse Water


d WaterProtein /

MilkStore

Option

% Alloca

tion26.0% 13.0% 2.0% 20.0% 11.0% 0.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 6.0% 2.0% 5.0%

Total # NCB

Shelves9 1/2 2 1/2 1 0 2 1 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/2

10 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 2 1 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/210 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 2 1 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/211 3 1 1/2 0 2 1 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/211 1/2 3 1 1/2 0 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/212 3 1 1/2 0 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0 1/212 1/2 3 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/213 3 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/213 1/2 3 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/214 3 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/214 1/2 4 2 1/2 3 1 1/2 0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/215 4 2 1/2 3 1 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 115 1/2 4 2 1/2 3 1 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 116 4 2 1/2 3 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 116 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 3 1/2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 117 4 1/2 2 1/2 3 1/2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 117 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 3 1/2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 118 4 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 3 1/2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 118 1/2 5 2 1/2 1/2 3 1/2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 119 5 2 1/2 1/2 4 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 119 1/2 5 2 1/2 1/2 4 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 120 5 2 1/2 1/2 4 2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 120 1/2 5 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 4 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 121 5 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 4 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 121 1/2 5 1/2 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 122 5 1/2 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 122 1/2 6 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 123 6 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 123 1/2 6 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 124 6 3 1/2 5 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 124 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 5 2 1/2 0 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 125 6 1/2 3 1/2 1/2 5 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/225 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 1/2 5 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/226 7 3 1/2 1/2 5 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/226 1/2 7 3 1/2 1/2 5 1/2 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/227 7 3 1/2 1/2 5 1/2 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/227 1/2 7 3 1/2 1/2 5 1/2 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/228 7 1/2 3 1/2 1/2 5 1/2 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/228 1/2 7 1/2 3 1/2 1/2 5 1/2 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/229 7 1/2 4 1/2 6 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/229 1/2 7 1/2 4 1/2 6 3 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/230 8 4 1/2 6 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/230 1/2 8 4 1/2 6 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/231 8 4 1/2 6 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/231 1/2 8 4 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/232 8 1/2 4 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/232 1/2 8 1/2 4 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/233 8 1/2 4 1/2 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/233 1/2 8 1/2 4 1/2 1/2 6 1/2 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/234 9 4 1/2 1/2 7 3 1/2 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/234 1/2 9 4 1/2 1/2 7 4 0 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1/2 1 1/235 9 4 1/2 1/2 7 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 235 1/2 9 4 1/2 1/2 7 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 236 9 1/2 4 1/2 1/2 7 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 236 1/2 9 1/2 4 1/2 1/2 7 1/2 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 237 9 1/2 5 1 7 1/2 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 237 1/2 10 5 1 7 1/2 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 238 10 5 1 7 1/2 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 238 1/2 10 5 1 7 1/2 4 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 239 10 5 1 8 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 239 1/2 10 1/2 5 1 8 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 240 10 1/2 5 1 8 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 240 1/2 10 1/2 5 1/2 1 8 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 241 10 1/2 5 1/2 1 8 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 241 1/2 11 5 1/2 1 8 1/2 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 242 11 5 1/2 1 8 1/2 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 242 1/2 11 5 1/2 1 8 1/2 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 243 11 5 1/2 1 8 1/2 4 1/2 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 243 1/2 11 1/2 5 1/2 1 8 1/2 5 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 244 11 1/2 5 1/2 1 9 5 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 244 1/2 11 1/2 6 1 9 5 0 2 2 2 2 1/2 1 245 11 1/2 6 1 9 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 1 2 1/245 1/2 12 6 1 9 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 1 2 1/246 12 6 1 9 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/246 1/2 12 6 1 9 1/2 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/247 12 6 1 9 1/2 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/247 1/2 12 1/2 6 1 9 1/2 5 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/248 12 1/2 6 1 9 1/2 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/248 1/2 12 1/2 6 1/2 1 9 1/2 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/249 12 1/2 6 1/2 1 10 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/249 1/2 13 6 1/2 1 10 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/250 13 6 1/2 1 10 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/250 1/2 13 6 1/2 1 10 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/251 13 1/2 6 1/2 1 10 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/2

Fill in Boxes Above

Suggested Category Allocation

Suggested Category Shelving Allocations

2019 C

OOLER

RESE

T FOR

M2019 GHRA NCB Plan-o-gram Allocation Sign-Up Form

Fill out this form and fax to GHRA office at 281-295-5399 or present to reset crew prior to reset

My Store Allocation Selections


19 Vol. 6 Issue 2

6 3 1/2 4 1/2 2 1/2 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 1

Total # NCB

ShelvesEnergy Tea Premium

Tea Isotonic DSD Water

Warehouse Water


d WaterProtein /

MilkStore

OptionMy

Shelving Allocatio

ns:

10%

Category Energy Tea Premium Tea Isotonic DSD

WaterWarehouse Water


d WaterProtein /

MilkStore

Option

% Allocatio

n26.0% 13.0% 2.0% 20.0% 11.0% 0.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 6.0% 2.0% 5.0%

Total # NCB

Shelves51 1/2 13 1/2 6 1/2 1 10 1/2 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/252 13 1/2 7 1 10 1/2 5 1/2 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/252 1/2 13 1/2 7 1 10 1/2 6 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/253 14 7 1 10 1/2 6 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/253 1/2 14 7 1 10 1/2 6 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/254 14 7 1 11 6 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1 2 1/254 1/2 14 7 1 11 6 0 2 1/2 2 1/2 2 1/2 3 1/2 1 2 1/255 14 1/2 7 1 11 6 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 355 1/2 14 1/2 7 1 11 6 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 356 14 1/2 7 1/2 1 11 6 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 356 1/2 14 1/2 7 1/2 1 11 1/2 6 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 357 15 7 1/2 1 11 1/2 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 357 1/2 15 7 1/2 1 11 1/2 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 358 15 7 1/2 1 11 1/2 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 358 1/2 15 7 1/2 1 11 1/2 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 359 15 1/2 7 1/2 1 12 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 359 1/2 15 1/2 7 1/2 1 12 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 360 15 1/2 8 1 12 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 360 1/2 15 1/2 8 1 12 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 361 16 8 1 12 6 1/2 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 361 1/2 16 8 1 1/2 12 1/2 7 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 362 16 8 1 1/2 12 1/2 7 0 3 3 3 3 1/2 1 362 1/2 16 1/2 8 1 1/2 12 1/2 7 0 3 3 3 4 1 1/2 363 16 1/2 8 1 1/2 12 1/2 7 0 3 3 3 4 1 1/2 363 1/2 16 1/2 8 1/2 1 1/2 12 1/2 7 0 3 3 3 4 1 1/2 364 16 1/2 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 7 0 3 3 3 4 1 1/2 364 1/2 17 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 7 0 3 3 3 4 1 1/2 365 17 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 7 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/265 1/2 17 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 7 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/266 17 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/266 1/2 17 1/2 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 1/2 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/267 17 1/2 8 1/2 1 1/2 13 1/2 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/267 1/2 17 1/2 9 1 1/2 13 1/2 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/268 17 1/2 9 1 1/2 13 1/2 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/268 1/2 18 9 1 1/2 13 1/2 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/269 18 9 1 1/2 14 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/269 1/2 18 9 1 1/2 14 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/270 18 9 1 1/2 14 7 1/2 0 3 1/2 3 1/2 3 1/2 4 1 1/2 3 1/2

My Store Allocation Selections

Fill in Boxes Above

2019

COO

LER

RESE

T FO

RM

Suggested Category Allocation

Suggested Category Shelving Allocations

Please contact Saman Distributors LLCfor your snack and candy needs at (323) 786-7865


CALL MOIZ MERCHANT TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE AT 281-295-5380

Cell: 832-283-4246Fax: 1-888-506-6022

Property, Liabil i ty, Workman’s Comp, Underground Tank,Flood, Windstorm and Many more

LOCATED INSIDE GHRA OFFICE12790 SOUTH KIRKWOOD RD HOUSTON TEXAS, 77477

COMMERCIAL HOME AUTO

YOU WILL BE PLEASED WITH OUR SERVICE AND PRODUCTS, SO CALL US TODAY

GHRA MAIN OFFICE12790 South Kirkwood Rd. Stafford, TX 77477 Ph. 281.295.5300Fax. 281.295.5399

GHRA WAREHOUSE 7110 Bellerive Dr.Houston, TX 77036

Ph. 281.295.5333 Fx. 281.295.5347



www.ghraonline.com

Poster #1:20oz Pepsi Bottles

Poster #2:12oz Red Bull Cans

Poster #3:30.4oz Core Water Bottles

Spanner Board:Gatorade 28oz Bottles

COMING UP: MARCH PROMOTIONS

ghra warehouse celebrates 3rd anniversarythank you for your support at our recent town hall...

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