In the Season 2 premiere, Lula Commerce Co-founder and CEO, Adit Gupta, joins President and CRO, Justin Jackson, to share insights from recent industry events, highlighting retailers' growing concerns around rising operational expenses and shrinking margins. Discover how digital strategies, especially AI-driven automation, can dramatically reduce hidden costs—from managing online orders and tablet uptime to proactive customer service. Plus, learn about Lula's groundbreaking Operators platform, a first-of-its-kind marketplace of AI agents designed specifically to streamline convenience store operations and drive profitability.

In this episode of Commerce Corner, Justin Jackson sits down with Kristin Sword from Jacksons to discuss how the company is expanding its digital strategy. Kristin shares insights on launching a new mobile app, rolling out a loyalty program, and scaling third-party delivery with Lula.

Looking ahead to 2025, Jacksons is focused on leveraging its new digital tools, expanding first-party ordering, and enhancing personalized customer experiences. Kristin also teases future innovations, including potential retail media network initiatives.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at how Jacksons is modernizing convenience retail while staying true to its brand.

On this week’s episode of Commerce Corner, Justin Jackson and Adit Gupta sit down with private equity executive and investor Bill Kay to discuss the evolving landscape of the convenience store industry. Bill shares insights from over 25 years in private equity, including his perspective on consolidation, enterprise value creation, and the role of digital transformation in driving profitability.

As convenience retailers look ahead to 2025, this episode offers a finance-driven perspective on maximizing growth and profitability in a rapidly changing industry.

In this episode of Commerce Corner, host Justin Jackson sits down with Jim Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, to explore the transformative power of change, confidence, and clarity in leadership. Jim shares his "Three C's" framework, insights on navigating industry disruptions, and the enduring relevance of convenience retail. From revitalizing 7-Eleven during challenging times to early partnerships with Amazon and Uber Eats, Jim's stories are packed with actionable wisdom for retail leaders and innovators. Stay tuned for Jim's thoughts on the future of digital commerce, the importance of lifelong learning, and how retailers can embrace change to thrive in a fast-evolving market.

Welcome to Episode 7 of Commerce Corner, featuring Art Sebastian, CEO of NexChapter. Dive into the top trends reshaping the convenience retail industry in 2024, from retail consolidation through acquisitions to the growing prominence of retail media networks.

Art and Justin discuss how convenience stores can adapt to the rapidly evolving competitive landscape, leverage their unique strengths, and digitize both the customer and employee experience. Don’t miss actionable advice on using first-party data, retail media strategies, and innovations in food service and store operations to stay ahead in 2025.

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Our CEO Adit and President Justin discuss the increasing use of data from a variety of courses in making key decisions in retail. From actionable customer reviews to some of the newest technology coming on line powered by AI, data has become a pillar in successful retail revenue growth.

Two of our senior leaders, Justin & Graham,  discuss Lula's approach to supporting our customers' success. Digital is far more than just "being" online. Partners choose Lula to tackle the many logistical hurdles of getting retail selection onto major marketplaces like DoorDash and Uber Eats, but the work only begins once you're online. Graham McAden leads our team of commerce experts that partners with our retailers to streamline operations and drive growth and profitability. In this episode he shares a bit more in detail what goes into that success.

Justin and Don discuss Don's history in convenience, the impact of Diversified Management Group (DMG) in helping C-Store operators excel, innovation in the space, and how important a focus on leadership is on overall success.

In this episode of Commerce Corner, host Justin Jackson sits down with Kyle Tooley of Tooley Oil Company to discuss the evolution of their family business and the challenges and successes of rebranding their convenience stores under the new Mixx Market brand. Kyle shares insights into launching a loyalty app, the intricacies of delivery service integration, and the future of convenience retail in the digital age. Tune in for an in-depth conversation about innovation, customer engagement, and staying competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Lula leadership chats about the state of the convenience store today and how customers might evaluate the level of convenience. Thinking about customer "occasions" - the points in time or situations in which consumers behave one way vs another is a provocative way to think about how retailers serve these customers. 

The convenience store was "invented" at a time of technological shift - the introduction of the automobile. Quite literally a new vehicle for customers in their search for retail.  Retail Ice Docks in Texas began offering chilled watermelons, which was met with great consumer acceptance leading to an expansion of grocery-style offerings at ice docs all around. 

As customers clearly valued the "convenience" these stores found other ways to please - from extended hours (7am to 11pm), to more relatively recent developments like pay at the pump, prepared food, and other efforts to delight customers. 

Customer demands for new levels of convenience continue today - as delivery options have shaken things up since the pandemic. Seen through the lens of consumer "occasions" - operators today must decide where to lead, where to follow, and where to differentiate completely.