Convenience Store Remodel Ideas to Ensure Customers Choose You
Inside and Out, C-Store Upgrades and Amenities Are Essential
In a world where convenience is king, the way your store looks and feels can make all the difference. A well-thought-out convenience store remodel can transform your space—at one location or hundreds—and ensure customers keep coming back week after week, year after year.
Securing customer loyalty is essential in today’s environment as the convenience store industry deals with a host of issues, from never-ceasing inflation, ongoing labor shortages, and motor fuel prices that cut into margins. After hitting record-high sales in 2022, total U.S. convenience store sales declined 4.7% in 2023—accounting for nearly $30 billion. While total sales were down, competition remained high as the industry’s total store count increased 1.5% to more than 152,000 locations—according to the 2024 Convenience Store News Industry Report, the longest-running annual analysis of U.S. c-store industry performance.
It all adds up to a sticky proposition for c-store owners. How to find more solid footing in an industry defined by competition? Making a positive impact on the customers’ experience has never been more important. We’re here to help with some strategic convenience store remodel ideas to help you optimize your locations for success. Let’s get started.
Four Ideas for Your Next Convenience Store Remodel
At Stratus, we have a long history of empowering gas stations and convenience stores with compelling, energy-efficient, and well-maintained brand and service solutions for long-term success. Here’s four proven refresh & remodel ideas that improve your brand’s appeal with the customers it’s trying to reach.
Optimize Store Layout and Traffic Flow
The layout of your store sets the stage for a pleasant shopping experience. A well-planned layout not only enhances customer satisfaction but also encourages more purchases.
- Plan an Efficient Layout — Guide your customers through the store in a logical, intuitive path. Consider a layout that naturally leads them from entrance to checkout, ensuring they pass by key product areas.
- Ensure Adequate Aisle Space — Overcrowded aisles can frustrate customers. Make sure your aisles are wide enough to allow easy browsing and prevent congestion, especially during peak hours.
- Add Multiple Checkout Registers — Nothing drives customers away faster than long checkout lines. Multiple checkout stations can help reduce bottlenecks and keep the traffic flowing smoothly.
- Improve Shelving — Use graduated tiered shelving systems to enhance product visibility. This makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for and encourages impulse buys.
Modern Design & Amenities
An updated interior not only looks good but also enhances the overall customer experience. Focus on modern, durable, and easy-to-maintain design elements, including brand-consistent paint and graphics for the walls and smart flooring choices.
A critical part of this approach is taking a closer look at the bathroom facilities as these are often a make-or-break part of the customer experience. Outdated equipment and faulty fixtures can tarnish the impression customers have of your establishment no matter if they’re spotless. But, contemporary convenience store renovations go beyond mere replacements of antiquated fixtures and plumbing overhauls.
From touchless soap dispensers and high-velocity hand dryers to programmable odor control systems, washroom fixtures are evolving into sophisticated components that elevate the customer experience. Modern bathroom equipment not only reduces the employee hours dedicated to cleaning and maintenance but also conveys a powerful statement about the value your business places on excellence.
Enhance Lighting and Ambiance
Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming and safe environment for your customers—both in the aisles and at the pump. Good lighting can also highlight your products and enhance your store’s overall ambiance. Here’s a four-point plan to create difference-making lighting in your convenience store remodel.
- Provide Ample Lighting: Ensure your store is well-lit, particularly around key areas like the fuel stations and product displays. Good lighting can make your store feel more spacious and inviting.
- Replace Fluorescent Lighting: Harsh fluorescent lights can be unappealing. Switch to softer, energy-efficient LED lighting to create a more comfortable shopping environment.
- Creative Lighting Installations: Use lighting creatively to highlight your branding and guide customers through the store. Accent lighting can draw attention to special offers and new products.
- Meet Energy Code Requirements: Ensure your lighting meets energy efficiency standards, such as California’s Title 24. This not only saves on energy costs but also demonstrates your commitment to sustainability.
Create an Inviting Exterior and Entrance
The exterior of your store is the first impression customers get, so make it count. An inviting entrance can attract more foot traffic and set the tone for a pleasant shopping experience. The surest way to begin checking all the boxes is to invest in the eye-catching, brand-aligned signage assets required.
Create and use bold, clear signage and graphics that reflect your branding. Effective exterior signage helps your location stand out at any time of day, critical to luring drivers from the road and acting as a beacon for those scanning their surroundings for a place to stop and refuel.
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your store’s appearance. Choose colors that align with your brand and create a welcoming atmosphere. Digital convenience store signage can also enhance your customer experience and allows you to swiftly and seamlessly highlight new sales and specials as they change. Directional or wayfinding signage helps customers quickly identify where they need to go, including restrooms, coffee stations, other key areas.
Tackle Any Convenience Store Remodel with Stratus
Complete brand reimplementation solutions is what we do at Stratus. With decades of experience across multiple markets, we deliver an extensive array of refresh & remodel capabilities that empower your convenience store remodel project to its fullest potential.
We ensure the success of your project with:
- A proven network of field partners who execute installations, repairs, and maintenance for all brand assets
- A program management team to coordinate every aspect and act as a single point of contact
- In-house manufacturing capabilities to ensure accuracy and quality control
- Technology solutions to make sure you’re informed at every step and the program stays on schedule
Connect with us to learn more and begin your convenience store remodel program.