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Gratitude: A Path to True Joy
By Jed Brewer, CEO of Study Groups “It’s not joy that makes us grateful; it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” My friend shared those words one night in a small group we were part of....
C-Store Manager Leadership: Building Great Teams That Drive Success
Strong convenience store performance begins with effective leadership. The best managers aren’t stopping at schedules and cigarette counts. They’re developing people and driving culture to build resilient, profitable stores. This article explores strategies from industry...
Frontline Engagement Benchmarks: How Top Companies Are Investing in 2026
As 2025 winds down, many companies are asking the same question: what will it take to keep great people in 2026? Across industries, one pattern keeps surfacing in the data: organizations with the longest frontline...
From Chaos to Competitive Edge: The Case for a Data Orchestration Platform
In the fast-paced world of convenience retail, success is measured in moments: a quick fuel-up, a morning coffee run, an evening snack purchase. Each of these moments generates a critical piece of data. But for...
M&A Case Study: Matrix Advises Redwood Oil Company, Inc. on its Sale to Jacksons Food Stores, Inc.
Redwood Oil Company, Inc. is a leading convenience retailer that operates 24 high-performing convenience stores throughout Northern California. The Company was founded in 1972 when Peter Van Alyea opened the first Redwood Market in Marin...
Effective KPI Strategies
Running a petroleum company is a complex business, especially with myriad moving parts impacted by real-time events. Having pre-set, critical financial data points available for review, tracking and benchmarking should be part of the management...
Limescale and Biofouling: the Silent Menaces Wreaking Havoc on Your C-store and Car Wash
Water is the lifeblood of your convenience store and car wash operations—but not all water is created equal. Hidden inside your pipes, machines, and spray nozzles are two culprits of bad water quality: limescale and...
Fueling Success: Ending the Tug-of-War Between Supply and Logistics
A Story of Two Teams Meet Sarah. She’s a Supply Analyst, and her screen looks like the matrix—a sea of numbers representing fuel prices, market trends, and arbitrage opportunities. This morning, she found a golden...
Strategic Planning & Leadership: Why Now Matters
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect. Strategic planning isn’t just about updating a spreadsheet, it’s about defining direction, setting goals, and aligning your team around a vision that...
Empower Your Employees So You Never Hear “I Didn’t Know” Again
In convenience stores and fuel distribution businesses, where every detail matters—from safe handling of fuel to fast and friendly customer service—the phrase “I didn’t know” can be costly. It can mean a frustrated customer, a...
Qualified Small Business Stock: How Companies in the Downstream Energy Industry Can Leverage Section 1202 to Exclude Millions in Gains
Small business owners in fuel distribution, retail and business-related downstream energy face unique challenges. Volatile margins, regulatory requirements and environmental compliance can place pressure on growth and profitability. Amid these headwinds, one powerful but often...
Building from the Ground Up: Why Retail Fuel Stations Must Prioritize the Network Layer in IT Strategy
In Fostering Innovation, Andrew Laudato introduces the Hierarchy of IT Needs, a powerful model that borrows from Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. At its foundation lies the network infrastructure – not a luxury, but a...