Niche Marketing Plans

Marketing a Convenience Store

Small and medium size convenience stores can compete and even outperform larger competitors. All it takes is the right marketing plan.

For every convenience store winner, there many more convenience stores struggling to survive.

What to know the characteristics that distinguish leading convenience stores from the competition? It's strong messaging. And if your marketing vehicles aren't crystal clear, you could become a casualty of the marketplace.

Multichannel Marketing Strategies

There are a lot of benefits to taking a multichannel approach to marketing. Today's consumers engage with brands in diverse ways. That means brands need to demonstrate similar diversity in the channels they employ to connect with customers.

Unless you adopt a multichannel strategy, your convenience store will struggle to maintain a noticeable presence in the marketplace. So when you create your marketing strategy, you'll need to consider including print ads, flyers, and even online marketing tactics in the mix. The acquisition of reliable mailing lists from proven providers can expedite the transition, but ultimately your efforts to go multichannel may require the assistance of a marketing professional.

Industry Resources

Lone rangers don't survive long in a convenience store. Most leaders are oblivious to the fact that the marketplace shows no favoritism - for every marketing challenge your business faces, there are hundreds of other businesses and leaders struggling to solve the same problem. Trade associations, business networks, and other venues usually offer resources to help you improve your marketing skills. If possible, establish a mentoring relationship with an experienced industry veteran.

Directories

Directories are a common tool for finding a convenience store. When all of your competitors are listed in a directory, you have no choice in the matter. To keep pace, competitive businesses must include the same directories in their plans for marketing convenience stores to market segments. Although there are plenty of free directory opportunities out there, some directories charge a fee to include your business in their listing. Regardless of whether it is a premium or free listing opportunity, every directory needs to be evaluated on its own merits. Some directories may also let you list more than your name and contact information, so be sure to ask whether your listing can include a logo and other information about your business.

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary