Ernie and Frank sit down to chat with McCrae Olson—a finalist from Big Brother 15. A longtime employee at one of Frank's favorite stores, 36 Lyn in Minneapolis, McCrae dives deep into the state of convenience store marketing, explains why retailers should pay for content that makes people laugh, and even shares a few crazy retail stories.…

We're back, and we're here to share our favorite convenience stores of 2022! We cover a full range of c-stores from the sleek and modern to the big and bold. There's even a store where customers drive their car inside. And in other news, we have a new co-host joining Al and Frank! Buckle up for an exciting year, because it's going to be a wild ride…

Did you know there’s a gas station serving 81 flavors of slushies—and a variety of delicious nitro ice cream—from inside its convenience store? That's right. In this episode, EdgePetrol’s Mark Truman joins us from London and provides the inside scoop on what’s new and exciting in convenience retail "across the pond." You won’t want to miss it. Topi…

We're back! Our next batch of ten episodes focuses on the importance of differentiation, and we kick it off by speaking to fuels consultant and data scientist, Brandon Lawrence. Learn why COVID-19 was a "dress rehearsal," how fuel demand will face structural challenges, and why Brandon is a fan of Buc-ee's, Casey's, and a single-store operator in A…

To celebrate our tenth episode, we did something different. Al and Frank have a very open and honest conversation about everything from psychic gas station goats at a station in Wisconsin, the inside story behind Frank's "30 Days of Gas Station Food" experiment, Al and Frank's favorite convenience stores, the time Al brought a gas station pastry ca…

What will the "new normal" look like after COVID-19, and how can convenience retailers become even more competitive in foodservice? Al and Frank talk with Jessica Williams, the founder and CEO of Food Forward Thinking LLC. Jessica discusses common foodservice failure modes, how to scale unique recipes, and shares insights from her experience workin…

The coronavirus pandemic has raised concerns about cleanliness at convenience stores. In this episode, Mike Zahajko of CAF Outdoor Cleaning shares tips, strategies, and other information that retailers should know.By Al Hebert and Frank Beard

In this episode, we talk with Ernie Harker about how he built the $3 billion Maverik brand. The conversation is full of practical advice for retailers of any size, and we also discuss personal branding, how to revitalize a dead brand, and why Ernie is not a fan of social media. Note: this episode was recorded before the coronavirus pandemic began s…

This episode comes to you from Berlin, Germany! We speak with Christian Warning: founder and managing director of The Retail Marketeers. This is a great discussion for anyone curious about the German fuel and c-store industry as well as today’s evolving retail environment. Note: this episode was recorded when co-host Frank Beard was in Berlin. Due …

By Al Hebert, Frank Beard, Ernie Harker

By Al Hebert, Frank Beard, Ernie Harker

It's a new decade! Al and Frank reflect on retail's evolution in a conversation with fuel and c-store expert, Sam Herro. From defunct department stores to the Tesla Cybertruck, we cover a lot of ground. For the past decade, Sam Herro has sought innovative ways to change the how, what, and where of fueling. In his most recent role as the Director of…

We're going international! Al and Frank chat with Nic Moulis, director of FuelnGo in Australia. Nic has spent more than 25 years as an operator and commentator in the Australian petroleum industry. Starting work at the front counter of a service station and convenience store, Nic progressed to become the owner of a multi-site retail and petroleum w…

In our first episode, Al and Frank speak with Kent Couch. Dubbed "the convenience-store innovator of Bend, Oregon" by a 2016 article from The Atlantic, Kent Couch's Stop and Go Mini Mart is famous for offering dozens of beers, kombucha, and other beverages on tap. His beer cave resembles an actual cave, the restrooms are upscale, and his uniformed …