http://community.csdecisions.net/ Convenience Store Decisions Community Topic: Cstore design and layout en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:18:38 +0000 http://community.csdecisions.net/topic/54#post-108 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:34:44 +0000 suprmark 108@http://community.csdecisions.net/ <p>I own and operate two c-stores here in Alaska. I have been in this business for 15 years and am just about ready to open up a third. What I do, is this:<br /> I find the very busiest locations (C-Stores) and walk in with my video camera and slowly shoot the whole location, inside &#38; out. The way I look at it, is why try to re-invent the wheel? There are places that you can go that will draw you up some plans that you can go by, but why spend that extra money?<br /> Location is just about everything. My most absolute criteria is traffic count. That is about the best way to determine if a site if viable or not. Also, a good rule of thumb is to try and be on the "going home" side of the road. Try and be where vehicles can enter and exit easily.<br /> I went to my local Department of Business, and asked them to do some research as fas as demographics. If you live in or near a college town, there business department would be more than happy to help you in this regard. Bear in mind thought that you OWN expertise is critical in this department. YOU should know the area more than anybody.<br /> As far as fuel jobbers (distributors) helping you out with your location...You bet! I don't hink you will find any that will help you with your underground storage tanks...but you WILL find distributors that will help you with branding costs, and more importantly, fuel rebates. For my third location, I had Shell, Chevron, and Tesoro (a local brand) all bid on my location. I ended up going with Chevron. They gave me $85,000 cas upgront ($60,000 of which I will have to spend on the canopy wrap and signage), and then gave me 3 cents a gallon for four years. Rarely will they help with the canoy either, but it depends on your location...my very first store, Tesoro put up the canopy for me, and the jobber gave me the dispensers, but I wouldn't count on it.<br /> Do this work yourself, not only do you know your location better than anybody, you should know it also! Talk to ALL of your fuel distributors, and let them bid against each other. Do your own building design---and then hire a contractor to build it for you, or do what I did and general the job yourself (you will save about 30% of the construction costs---but you EARN IT!)</p> <p>Good luck &#38; if you have any more questions, please e-mail me at: <a href="mailto:suprmark@mtaonline.net">suprmark@mtaonline.net</a> </p> <p>Mark </p> http://community.csdecisions.net/topic/54#post-107 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:44:27 +0000 gesb 107@http://community.csdecisions.net/ <p>hi everyone! I just found this site yesterday and think it is great!!! A new highway in MS opened a few months age and we own a 1.8 acre lot at an exit. We are considering the feasability of building a cstore/gas station/donut shop/subway. At this point, we are trying to have property rezoned for commercial use. Questions I have that hopefully you can help with include:<br /> 1. I don't know the first thing about designing/opening/managing a cstore. Where is a good first stopping opoint for me to begin to educate myself (I've spent the last 15 years in the corporate world but have managed a global team)<br /> 2. I've read on this forum there are vendors that can help analyze the location and demographics.....where can I find more information on this type of vendor.<br /> 3. How do I determine if a gas partner would be interested in installing the tanks/pumps/canopy at my location.</p> <p>Obviously I have plenty more but think thisis a good starting point.<br /> Thanks in advance for your expert advice<br /> 2. </p>