Notes on running a smarter store.
Practical writing on wholesale buying, pricing, and the back office — from the team building StoreQueue.
How independent convenience stores order from distributors in 2026
August 10, 2026 — Phone calls, fax, rep visits, portals, and ordering apps — how c-store wholesale ordering actually works in 2026, and what to look for if you’re ready to modernize.
How to compare wholesale prices across your distributors
August 13, 2026 — Unit-of-measure traps, case-pack math, and effective versus list price — a practical guide to comparing distributor prices honestly, with or without software.
The back-office checklist for independent stores
August 16, 2026 — Price book, margins, bookkeeping, time clock, sales reports — the complete checklist of what back-office software should cover for an independent store.
Choosing a POS setup for a gas station or c-store
August 18, 2026 — Registers versus back office, price book sync, lottery and fuel, and the integration questions to ask before you commit to a POS setup for a convenience store.
Case pack math: the hidden reason your margins leak
August 27, 2026 — Units per case, inner packs, and per-unit price traps — why the "cheaper" case is often the expensive one, and how to compare distributor quotes correctly.
Cycle counts for a corner store: a 15-minute weekly routine
September 3, 2026 — You don’t need to close the store to count it. A practical weekly cycle-count routine for small stores — what to count, when, and what the numbers tell you.
Tobacco scan data programs, explained for independents
September 10, 2026 — What scan data is, why tobacco manufacturers pay stores for it, and what an independent store actually needs to participate — an educational primer, no strings attached.
Five order sheets, one truck day: running multi-supplier delivery weeks
September 17, 2026 — Cutoffs, order days, minimums, and the Tuesday pile-up — how to organize a week where five suppliers deliver on their schedule, not yours.
What NACS means for an independent convenience store owner
October 1, 2026 — What the NACS Show and the association actually offer a single-store or small-group operator — and how to turn a few days on the show floor into real buying and back-office wins.
What a retailers association offers an independent store
October 3, 2026 — Dues, group benefits, advocacy, and member pricing — what retail and convenience associations actually do for a single store, and how to stack their benefits with modern ordering tools.
A hospitality association guide for store and foodservice operators
October 6, 2026 — What hospitality and lodging associations offer operators who run food, beverage, and retail outlets — member benefits, supplier programs, and where a multi-distributor ordering app fits.
Convenience store associations and buying groups, explained
October 8, 2026 — State and national c-store associations, alliances, and buying groups — what each type does, how they differ, and how to combine their benefits without giving up your distributor relationships.
Buying group vs. GPO vs. ordering app: what’s the difference?
October 10, 2026 — Group purchasing organizations, buying groups, and ordering apps do different jobs. A plain-English guide for store owners on what each one is, what it costs, and how they fit together.