The day I first fell under the spell of Ian Rattray, my retail design guru and friend, was when I heard him explain the evolution of the convenience store and how it was really embedded in the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry itself. It seems that somewhere in the early 2000s there was a “tipping point” moment: These little stores adjacent to the gas pumps started pumping more profits than the pumps. Gas had become a price-sensitive commodity—what’s the difference between Exxon Mobil’s fuel and Texaco’s? Shell’s versus BP’s? Is it a difference you’re willing to drive out of your way to gain? Unlikely. A nickel a gallon difference in price ...
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