C-store managers wear many hats, but one of the most impactful aspects of their role is managing the customer-facing experience. In a convenience store setting, attention to the smallest details—like a neatly stocked shelf or a strategic product placement—can lead to meaningful increases in sales. H&S Energy, as a leading fuel and convenience store operator, understands that strong in-store management directly influences profitability. Here are five proven in-store best practices store managers should prioritize to create a high-performing, sales-focused retail environment.
Implement these In-Store Best Practices to Boost Sales this Year
1. Design Strategic and Visually Appealing Store Displays
Effective store displays are more than just aesthetically pleasing—they serve as silent salespeople. Eye-catching displays draw attention to high-margin items, encourage impulse purchases, and can even increase dwell time.
Best Practices:
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Use End Caps and Power Aisles: These are prime real estate in any retail space. Place top-selling, seasonal, or promotional items in these areas to capitalize on high visibility.
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Tell a Story with Product Groupings: Cross-merchandise products that make sense together—like chips and dip or soda and snacks—to encourage larger basket sizes.
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Change Displays Regularly: Refreshing the front-facing displays weekly keeps the store looking fresh and signals newness to returning customers. This also prevents “display fatigue,” where regulars stop noticing items that never change.
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Use Clear Signage: According to retail merchandising studies, bold, professionally printed signs highlighting deals or new products can increase engagement by 20–30%.
Easy Action Tip: Set a “display calendar” to plan weekly or bi-weekly rotations with upcoming promotions, holidays, and peak seasons.
2. Prioritize Store Cleanliness and Curb Appeal
Customers form an impression of your store in the first 5 seconds of arrival. A dirty forecourt, smudged windows, or cluttered entry can turn people away—even loyal patrons. Cleanliness isn’t just about hygiene; it’s about professionalism and trustworthiness.
Best Practices:
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Create a Daily Cleaning Checklist: Assign opening, midday, and closing tasks for every shift. This includes the restroom, beverage station, cooler doors, and front entrance.
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Don’t Overlook the Forecourt: A clean gas station forecourt attracts more customers. Ensure trash cans are emptied regularly, pump areas are wiped down, and windshield stations are maintained.
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Maintain Product Presentation: Dusty shelves, sticky coffee counters, and crooked merchandise make customers less likely to buy.
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Use Fragrance Strategically: A pleasant, subtle scent in the store—especially near food and beverage areas—can enhance the shopping experience and improve perceived cleanliness.
Easy Action Tip: Implement monthly “mystery shopper” evaluations to audit cleanliness and overall presentation.
3. Optimize Stocking and Product Availability
According to Nielsen, 32% of shoppers will leave a store without buying if the product they want isn’t available, and many won’t return. Stockouts cost stores not only immediate sales but also long-term loyalty. One of the easiest in-store best practices is to simply ensure you have the products customers want on your store shelves.
Best Practices:
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Track Inventory Trends: Use your POS system to identify best-sellers by daypart (morning coffee, afternoon snacks, etc.) and ensure they are fully stocked at the right times.
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Implement FIFO: “First In, First Out” reduces expired product issues, especially for perishable and dated goods.
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Audit for Gaps and Dead Stock: Walk the floor daily and note gaps on shelves or items that haven’t moved in weeks. Consider promotions to clear slow movers and free up space.
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Empower Shift Leads: Give trusted team members responsibility for daily checks of high-turnover areas like beverage coolers, snack displays, and tobacco products.
Easy Action Tip: Use shelf tags or color-coded dots to indicate products that need to be checked or rotated by date regularly.
4. Master Product Placement and Category Flow
The way products are arranged can significantly affect purchasing behavior. Good product placement can naturally lead customers from need-based shopping to indulgent impulse buying, boosting the average transaction.
Best Practices:
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Eye-Level = Buy Level: Place top-selling or high-margin products at eye level where they’re easiest to grab. Place kid-targeted items lower, and bulk or budget items higher.
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Create Destination Zones: Anchor areas like coffee stations or the beer cooler should be inviting and efficient. They serve as traffic drivers that can also expose customers to other items en route.
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Plan Your Planogram: When setting up shelves, follow category best practices. Place popular items in the middle with complementary products nearby.
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Use Checkout Zones Wisely: Small, high-margin items like gum, candy, batteries, and trial-size products should be near the counter. Rotating these every month keeps interest high.
Easy Action Tip: Periodically walk the store as a customer would—from entrance to checkout—and reevaluate the flow and positioning of your products.
5. Leverage Seasonal and Promotional Opportunities
Seasonal promotions are key opportunities to showcase new products, drive urgency, and engage customers emotionally. They create reasons to visit the store beyond day-to-day habits.
Best Practices:
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Use Themes and Local Events: Tie promotions to national holidays (e.g., Memorial Day BBQ packs), regional events (e.g., school football season), or weather-related needs (e.g., rain gear or cold beverages).
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Bundle Products: Offer combo deals like “any two energy drinks for $5” or “buy a sandwich, get chips half off.” This creates perceived value and drives add-on sales.
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Promote via Signage and Staff: Digital signage and employee suggestions (“Would you like to add a cookie for $1?”) help ensure promotions are seen and heard.
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Measure Success: Review sales data to assess ROI after a promotion ends. Did the product move faster? Did customers purchase other items with it?
Easy Action Tip: Get your team excited about H&S Energy’s quarterly promotional campaigns and ensure everyone knows how the promo prices work.
Creating a Culture of Retail Excellence
The key to running a successful convenience store lies in location, pricing, and execution. Each of the five in-store best practices outlined here directly correlates to increased basket size, foot traffic, or customer satisfaction. Managers who implement these consistently and creatively will see results reflected in sales, team morale, and customer loyalty.
H&S Energy is committed to helping its managers succeed. By focusing on display strategy, cleanliness, stocking, product placement, and promotional engagement, each store can become a destination in its own right. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve success.
