Better insight drives better decisions. Stay tuned for details about our NACS Show Education Sessions. Equip your cross-functional team with the actionable market intelligence and expert strategies needed to navigate the evolving convenience retail landscape.
56 Sessions
The NACS Leadership for Success Program brings the brightest industry supervisors together to develop their personal leadership skills and become better leaders. For the past five months, the participants have been working on reducing turnover, increasing employee engagement, and developing store managers by creating plans, setting goals, and tracking their progress. They are ready to share the results! Hear what worked (and what didn’t) as they sought to develop and strengthen their teams.
The NACS Leadership for Success Program brings the brightest industry supervisors together to develop their personal leadership skills and become better leaders. For the past five months, the participants have been working on reducing turnover, increasing employee engagement, and developing store managers by creating plans, setting goals, and tracking their progress. They are ready to share the results! Hear what worked (and what didn’t) as they sought to develop and strengthen their teams.
This session will feature the winner of the “Smartest Store in the World” competition, announced in June 2026, celebrating the most innovative and high-performing retail operation across formats and markets. Attendees will get an inside look at the winning store’s strategy, technologies, and execution—from AI-driven insights to advanced analytics and operational excellence. The session will highlight how this standout retailer is achieving faster transactions, higher margins, and an enhanced customer experience through intelligent design and data-powered decision-making. Join us to learn what
Explore how convenience retailers in Asia and Europe are redefining the customer experience through technology, foodservice, store design, and sustainability. This session will highlight innovative concepts and emerging trends from global markets while offering practical ideas and inspiration that can be adapted for North American convenience retail operations.
Fraud and scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated—and convenience retailers are frequent targets. In this session, experts and retailers will explore the most common scams affecting stores today, from cash-out and gift card fraud to social engineering and phone-based schemes. Through real examples and interactive audience participation, attendees will learn how scams happen, how much they can cost, and practical strategies to deter them—including employee training, operational safeguards, and in-store tools to help teams spot and stop fraud before it happens.
Social media success in retail is no longer just about reach—it’s about relevance, authenticity, and local connection. This session explores how retailers can use platforms like TikTok and Snapchat alongside influencer partnerships to create meaningful community impact and stronger customer engagement. Attendees will learn how to identify and vet the right influencers, evaluate partnership models, and understand why micro and local influencers often outperform large national campaigns. The session will also examine the balance between viral content and brand value, how retailers can connect
This session is designed for first-time NACS Show attendees and new NACS members looking to make the most of their experience. Participants will learn how to navigate the show floor, identify can’t-miss events, and build valuable connections throughout the week. The session will also highlight the many ways NACS membership can deliver value year-round, helping retailers tap into resources, education, and industry insights long after the show ends.
Great merchandising meets customers where they are. This session dives into how retailers can align product assortment, promotions, and displays with key seasonal moments to drive engagement and sales. Learn how to create compelling in-store experiences that stand out, stay fresh, and deliver results.
This session highlights real career journeys within the convenience industry, showing how leadership paths often begin at the store level. Through personal stories and practical examples, attendees will explore how to identify internal talent, create visible career pathways, and help frontline employees see convenience retail as a long-term profession with meaningful opportunities for growth and leadership.
The petroleum markets were put through the ringer in 2026 and the global market may never be the same. The disruption to the Persian Gulf in the first half of the year forced a complete reconsideration of the global supply system. Meanwhile, retailers were faced with the market realities of national average gasoline prices around $5 per gallon, with some markets experiencing prices above $7. How might the market reset after the tumultuous experience of this year? What should retailers know about the future of supply and price pressure?
As EV adoption accelerates, many convenience retailers are deciding whether they should own their charging infrastructure or simply host it at their stores. This panel brings together a convenience retailer and an EV charging provider to walk through real-word case studies of deploying charging infrastructure at convenience stores. With a focus on practical insights, the discussion will cover key considerations for convenience retailers, as well as how to align charging investments with business goals and measure success. By sharing both successes and lessons learned, this session will
What makes certain leaders energizing to be around—and how can you become one of them? In this session, Emma Seppälä, faculty director of Yale’s Women’s Leadership Program, explores the science and practice of positively energizing leadership. She’ll share practical strategies to build resilience, strengthen relationships, and elevate team performance in today’s demanding workplace.
Can tobacco and loyalty programs work together, and what does it take to make them successful? This session explores how retailers are using loyalty strategies, technology, and customer data to drive engagement, measure ROI, and create meaningful sales lift across tobacco and other key categories. Attendees will learn what is needed from the tech stack, how participating retailers compare to non-participants, and ways to evolve loyalty programs beyond traditional discounts. Through case studies and real-world lessons learned, the session will highlight practical strategies, common challenges,
Among the most profitable customer segments of the convenience industry are the small fleet operators like the construction and landscape companies and the local and regional trucking companies. These fleets refuel several times each week and stock up on provisions from your stores. They also buy a lot of diesel fuel, which in 2025 generated average margins of 52 cents per gallon. How can you leverage your diesel fuel offer and gain the loyalty of these companies and their employees? It’s time to make diesel sexy again and capitalize on the profit opportunity.
This session equips retail leaders with a practical guide to evaluating and purchasing AI solutions without falling into costly traps. Attendees will explore common pitfalls such as hidden fees, usage-based pricing, subscription sprawl, and integration challenges that can undermine ROI. The discussion will break down total cost of ownership across on-prem and SaaS models while highlighting the critical questions to ask before making an investment. The key takeaway: without proper integration and strategy, AI can create more complexity than value—so smart buying decisions matter.
For small operators, culture matters. It shapes how employees show up, how customers feel in the store, and how your business connects with the community. This session will share simple, realistic ways to build a positive culture through local giving, team engagement, and everyday customer interactions. Attendees will hear ideas for supporting causes that fit their brand, creating a fun workplace, and building goodwill that can lead to stronger loyalty and long-term growth. The session will also offer a practical roadmap for creating a culture that works for your store, your team, and your
Technology at the pump is evolving beyond fuel transactions, creating new opportunities to engage customers and drive in-store sales. In this session, retailers will explore innovations such as pre-ordering, mobile rewards, digital payments, and even sustainability initiatives like solar-powered sites. Through real-world case studies, speakers will discuss what has worked, what hasn’t, and the true ROI of these investments—including how forecourt technology influences inside sales, customer engagement, and security considerations. Attendees will leave with practical insights to help evaluate
Category management decisions can make—or break—store performance. In this session, retailers will share real-world case studies highlighting both successful strategies and lessons learned when optimizing planograms, store layouts, and product assortment. Attendees will explore how data, AI, and emerging tools like computer vision can improve demand planning, reduce out-of-stocks, and maximize space productivity—while also understanding the costs, ROI, and practical considerations for operators of all sizes.
Interest in THC beverages is growing rapidly, creating both opportunity and uncertainty for convenience retailers. In this session, industry experts will explore the evolving regulatory landscape, what retailers need to know about selling these products responsibly, and how the category may fit into convenience retail. Attendees will gain insight into current state-level regulations, operational considerations such as age restrictions and product placement, and the potential role THC beverages could play in the future of the category as legislation continues to develop.
In this data-driven session, delivered using the NACS State of the Industry Summit format, attendees will delve into an extensive analysis of key performance metrics gleaned from the proprietary NACS C-Store Exchange (CSX) database. Through compelling charts and graphs, a comparative assessment of financial health, operational efficiency, and overall effectiveness will be presented, highlighting areas of strength, and identifying opportunities for improvement. By leveraging this benchmarking data, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of their competitive position, enabling them to make
Convenience Connect is an opportunity for our newest NACS supplier members to meet and learn from influential convenience retailers. During this 90-minute session, retailers representing a range of store sizes will host small groups of new suppliers to discuss industry topics relevant to their stores. Groups will rotate every 15 minutes to hear perspectives from other retailers. At the end of the third rotation, participants will continue informal conversations over light refreshments. Learn what’s top-of-mind for your customers and how you can help them improve their businesses.
Drawing from extensive research beyond the industry's confines, the NACS/Conexxus Technology Roadmap outlines the technological and cultural shifts that continue to shape the retail landscape. The roadmap will help you navigate and thrive within the constantly changing technology landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare today for the future.
As consumer behavior continues to shift toward convenience integrated into everyday life, a new retail category is emerging: residential embedded convenience retail. This session explores how convenience operators can rethink traditional assumptions around traffic patterns, customer engagement, and retail placement by operating inside multifamily, mixed-use, student housing, and master-planned communities. Using real-world operational insights from Urban Value Corner Store, attendees will gain practical insight into: embedded convenience behavior, amenity-based retail operations, autonomous
This session explores how to market a foodservice program in a way that builds trust, reinforces brand credibility, and drives long-term customer behavior—not just short-term traffic. Participants will learn how to evaluate whether their marketing is truly working, align messaging with operational reality, and design foodservice offers that resonate with their core customers.