Was
standing in a convenience store the other day. Had a few minutes
to spare, as the person ahead of me was sorting out a detailed
issue of one type or another. So, I wandered a few feet away from
the counter. Not so far away that I would lose my place, but far
enough to look over a few things in a couple of aisles. And, I
have to say, I’m a little confused.
In
one spot, I saw salad dressings. Three options. Italian, fat free
ranch, and cole slaw. On the shelf directly underneath, cream
of celery soup. And I’m just going to stop providing examples
right there, because we have enough from this that visits to other
places aren’t really necessary.
Italian
and fat free ranch? Well, ok, I guess. Pretty standard offerings,
and a fat free option is included. I can see those. But cole slaw?
In
no corner of the store are any fresh vegetables of any kind sold.
There’s not even a roadside produce stand nearby if you were thinking
of cole slaw dressing here and cabbage there. Why the cole slaw
dressing in a convenience store? I’ve never tried cole slaw pasta
salad. I’ve heard of it. Never tried it. Seems like an awfully
specific kind of item with a really limited window of appeal.
I’d
probably let it pass if it wasn’t for that can of soup directly
underneath it. I’m sure that in my lifetime I have probably used
a can of cream of celery soup or two. But I don’t remember any
of them. And I cannot think of a single reason, very last second
no other option and crossing my fingers to late at night and I
really need some, where I would be looking to a convenience store
for a can of cream of celery soup. It’s just not what I would
place in the emergency need or impulse buy categories.
But
there they were, cole slaw dressing and cream of celery soup,
all of a few inches apart.
As
I got in the car and drove home, something occurred to me. The
inventories at convenience stores are not designed with me in
mind.
I
know. Hardly an original thought or even a massively significant
philosophical realization. But we’re talking about a limited space
here. For a convenience store, every square foot would seem to
be something an owner would want to maximize for profits.
In
addition to things like having gas pumps out front, many convenience
stores are now in the business lanes that stretch beyond milk,
cigarettes and candy. They sell alcohol. Lottery tickets. Almost
all of them have made attempts at improving meal options so that
their sandwiches, pizza and other ready-to-eat items are actually
worth considering. (This as opposed to being a place where wondering
how many days the hot dogs have been spinning on those rollers
is a real concern. Which, since we’ve wandered into the waters,
gas station sushi remains something you might really want to think
about before acting. Anyway… limited space…)
If
you are an owner of one store or several locations, chances are
good you’re tracking the items that sell well and the items that
sit on the shelf and never move. Maybe—stay with me, maybe—there
are people that enjoy convenience store burritos dipped in cole
slaw dressing. And, if there are, I suppose it’s possible there
are more of them than I know (even though I have never met one
of them).
When
I was growing up, these stores seemed designed to cater almost
exclusively to immediate needs and impulse decisions. Milk. Bread.
Newspaper. Candy. Simple list.
Maybe
they’ve always offered wiper blades and fuel additives. And times
change, with lock deicer quite likely not as in demand these days
with keyless entry options so common. But it sure seems like the
breakfast cereals and beverage coolers have completely different
looks compared to those in my memories.
It’s
reaching a point though where I think many people are shopping
in convenience stores more and more. They’re becoming a bit of
a general store, where expectations are high (or, expectations
are at least narrowed and focused).
Maybe
I’ve just been fortunate. It’s rare, and often related to late
night travel desires, where I might even find myself looking for
something and I don’t have options like a grocery store or an
open restaurant available. Thing is, I still can’t come up with
a time that cole slaw dressing and cream of celery soup would
bring me into the local fill ‘er up. But I suppose that might
just be me.