Commerce Corner

In this episode of Commerce Corner, Lula Commerce sits down with Peter Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of Convenience and Energy Advisors, for a candid conversation about what is actually working (and what is quietly breaking) inside c-store loyalty programs in 2026. Peter brings 25 years inside the industry, including 17 years at Wawa, leadership in Sheetz, and the build-and-exit of Neon Marketplace, and he uses that depth to unpack why the brands winning today are operating loyalty as a measurable commerce engine rather than a marketing checkbox.

In this episode of Commerce Corner, hosts Adit Gupta and Matt Kopyt sit down with Brian Trout, a convenience retail veteran who has scaled Yesway from concept to 150 stores in just three years via strategic acquisitions. Brian has held leadership roles at Amoco Oil, BP, Thorntons, GPM, and the Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association (GHRA).Convenience store operators are facing unprecedented challenges: fuel price volatility, supply chain disruptions, pressure from major chains with advanced digital capabilities, and the need to do more with fewer people. This conversation cuts through the noise on what actually drives c-store profitability and competitive advantage.Whether you're scaling a regional chain, running independent stores, or investing in convenience retail, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, labor efficiency, supply chain resilience, and the competitive advantage of stepping back to focus on strategic operations instead of daily shifts.

In this episode of Commerce Corner, Abigail Cerra, Director of Marketing, Loyalty, and Communications at Chestnut Market, joins Adit Gupta and Matt Kopyt to talk about what it really takes to build a loyalty program from the ground up.Abigail shares her journey from part-time cashier to leading loyalty strategy across 80 convenience store locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She breaks down how Chestnut Market built its Chestnut Rewards program with fully enrolled members from day one, why she maps her tech roadmap backward from a 10-year vision, and what most retailers get wrong about digital promotions.The conversation also covers retail media opportunities for regional chains, why she thinks digital wallets should go away, and what convenience retail can learn from other industries when it comes to personalization.Abigail is also a founding board member of C-Store Women, and shares her perspective on advancing women into director and c-suite level roles in the convenience industry.

In Episode 3 of Season 2 of Commerce Corner, we sit down with Tiffany Fraley, CEO of InConvenience Inc., to hear how she built a convenience store brand from scratch after spending her career in commercial real estate. Tiffany shares what it was like stepping behind the counter for the first time, forming her own company, and developing a technology roadmap without any prior industry experience. The conversation covers how she approaches vendor partnerships, why every tech investment needs to tie back to the P&L, and how she's building Gas Spot and Good Spot locations into genuine community hubs. We also talk about what it means to lead as a woman in a male-dominated industry and why she believes the future of convenience retail is female.This episode offers an honest look at what it takes to enter convenience retail as an outsider and build something meaningful from day one. Be sure to subscribe!

In Episode 2 of Season 2 of Commerce Corner, we sit down with Matt Van Gilder of NexChapter to continue our series on technology roadmaps and digital execution in convenience retail.Matt shares how retailers can move from reacting to digital issues to building intentional, scalable roadmaps that support long-term growth. The conversation explores how teams should think about prioritization, ownership, and the operational realities that often derail even the best digital strategies. We also dig into how AI and automation can play a practical role in reducing friction, improving uptime, and supporting lean teams without adding complexity.This episode offers clear perspective for retailers looking to mature their digital commerce programs and make smarter decisions around technology investments.Be sure to subscribe!

In the Season 2 premiere of Commerce Corner, we kick off our series on technology roadmaps with Rick Rigby, Chief Technology Officer at Atlantis Management Group.Rick takes us behind the scenes and shares how his team at Atlantis approaches digital transformation and the process of creating and executing their roadmap. He provides some actionable next steps for retailers looking to build out digital commerce channels, AI products, and any large scale technical initiative.Be sure to subscribe and don't miss new episodes dropping each month! 

In Episode 11, 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.For more resources, visit lulacommerce.com.

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.

In the first episode of the Commerce Corner podcast from Lula Commerce, Adit Gupta, Co-founder and CEO at Lula Commerce, and Justin Jackson, CRO at Lula Commerce,  discuss key considerations for convenience chains that are establishing a digital commerce channel. They highlight why convenience store teams are beginning to prioritize local delivery, strategies to ensure digital commerce channels are profitable, and many different ways retailers can set themselves apart in a competitive digital marketplace.Learn more about how Lula partners with convenience chains to develop and manage a successful e-commerce business at www.lulaconvenience.com