Education Sessions

Convenience retailers are expanding beyond traditional offerings to provide new services that drive traffic and deepen customer engagement. In this session, retailers will explore how amenities like Amazon lockers and returns, car washes, specialty ice, propane exchange, refillable water stations, recycling, Coinstar, and drive-through pickup are creating additional reasons for customers to visit. Through real-world examples and operator insights, attendees will learn how these services can enhance the customer experience, generate incremental revenue, and position stores as everyday

Branded merchandise has become a powerful way for retailers to build loyalty, extend their brand, and create new revenue streams. In this session, industry leaders will explore how brands like Buc-ee’s and 7-Eleven have successfully turned store merchandise into must-have items for customers. Attendees will learn how effective merchandising, brand storytelling, and social buzz can transform simple products into highly sought-after brand ambassadors.

Retailers have more customer data than ever before—but knowing which insights actually drive results is the real challenge. This session explores the data sources that matter most, from POS and loyalty data to geolocation, app engagement, weather, vendor insights, and demographic overlays. Attendees will learn how leading retailers are using customer segmentation, dynamic offers, trigger campaigns, personalized bundles, and “just for you” pricing to create more relevant promotions and re-engage lapsed shoppers. The session will also address common retail data myths and why intuition alone is

Using insights from the State of the Industry (SOI) report, this session takes a deeper look at consumer spending patterns, operational variables, and what separates the top quartile from the bottom quartile within the data.

Category deep dive. What's next in cold, hot, and specialty beverages, and what customers will pay for.

Retailers know the next generation of shoppers will shape the future of convenience—but what does “convenience” actually mean to them? In this interactive session, we explore how Gen Z and Gen Alpha define convenience through surprising, funny, and insightful street-style interviews and real-world examples. Attendees will gain fresh perspective on emerging trends, technology expectations, and how younger consumers influence merchandising, branding, and the overall store experience.

Advanced technology is changing the customers’ path to purchase. Drivers are increasingly relying upon their smart phones and vehicle technologies to determine travel routes and to direct them to retailers offering products and services they need. The days of driving down the road and looking for a good place to stop are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Convenience retailers must ensure they are part of the customer decision making process long before the drivers realize they need gas or electricity. This session will discuss the tools and tactics that will ensure your physical location

Strong networks don’t happen by chance, they’re built with intention. In this interactive roundtable session, participants will connect with peers across the convenience industry while exploring strategies to grow their network, increase visibility, and create meaningful professional relationships. While centered on advancing and empowering women in the industry, all are welcome to join the conversation. Come ready to share, learn, and leave with connections that last beyond the session.