American Road Trips Expected to Increase in 2024: Is Your Store Ready?
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It’s summertime and the driving is easy. Well, at least we hope so. It’s officially Road Trip Season in the United States. 70% of U.S. travelers are planning to take at least one road trip in 2024, up 13% from last year. Is your gas station or convenience store ready for the travel boom? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
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5 Tips to Prepare for Summer Road Trip Traffic
- Safety first. No matter what, you should always keep your station as safe as possible for both customers and employees. Identify and resolve things like trip hazards on your sidewalks/curbs and metal bands sticking out from your fuel islands. Ensure the correct signage and fire extinguishers are at each dispenser. Review your store’s emergency protocol with new and existing employees and make sure everything is well-documented.
- First impressions matter. Keep your station clean and well-lit so that travelers feel safe and comfortable stopping at your facility. Bright signage and lights can help drive traffic from the road – consider upgrading to LED lighting and installing new canopies. Upon arrival, things like overflowing trashcans, litter, and malfunctioning pumps can deter patrons so be sure to keep up with daily cleaning and maintenance.
- Snack placement is key. What’s a road trip without snacks? Utilize end caps and displays to promote certain snacks and beverages – bonus points for summertime flavors. Signage promoting cold beverages, ice cream, and other summer staples will help drive foot traffic from the pump to the store.
- Are you on the map? No, not the folded one in the glove compartment – the one that everyone uses…Google. Claim your Google map address so potential customers can find your gas station when they need it most. Here are helpful instructions on how to claim your location.
- Keep on the sunny side. If you’ve ever been on a road trip, you know how stressful and exhausting it can be. Try to remember that when wayward travelers come to your store. They’ve probably heard “are we there yet” 1,432,530,430 times and are fighting with their partner over what playlist or podcast to listen to. Your staff’s attitude can make or break an experience and impact your brand, no matter how brief.