The gasoline retailing industry is crying out for a new and improved margin experience.

A new retail philosophy and concept is needed, designed to deliver what eminent economist Peter Drucker calls “innovative” or “creative” revenue: high, double-digit margins, and even triple digit returns.

The c-store phenomenon proved people will buy other things along with gas, and will even pay high prices for them. Indeed, the c-store is now the obligatory “cost of entry” in gasoline retailing. The next phase of the industry’s evolution arrived well over a decade ago: fast food co-branding. These co-branded sites offer higher product margins but are more labor intensive to operate than a c-store, require more extensive management experience, and can be an expensive proposition. And if a retailer rents out square footage to a third-party operator—well, there’s not much “creative revenue” derived from rental fees.

Combine all this with the continuing pressures of declining fuel margins, high real estate cost, and inadequate c-store margins to support that cost, and it’s clear that the time is right for a shift to a new retail philosophy and concept…

And let’s face it, no matter how you dress it up, a c-store is neither environmentally nor economically creative.

So MOVE OVER c-store.

People are ready, willing, and eager for a new and improved gasoline buying experience.