02 Oct Ways Electronic Shelf Labels Help Convenience Stores Compete with Larger Retailers

Running a convenience store isn’t easy these days. With online shopping taking a bigger bite of the market, you’re probably always on the lookout for ways to stay ahead.

Well, here’s something that might just give you the edge—electronic shelf labels (ESLs). These nifty digital displays are shaking things up in the retail world and could be just what your store needs to boost sales, keep costs in check, and fatten up those profit margins.

Pricing On The Fly

Let’s face it, changing prices on paper labels is a pain in the…

The process is time-consuming, prone to mistakes, and overall, a bit of a headache. We remember working at a store years ago, and we’d spend hours every week just updating prices. It was mind-numbing work, and we’d still miss a few tags here and there. But with ESLs, you can wave goodbye to all that hassle.

These digital price tags let you update prices across your whole store in just a few clicks. You can even update multiple stores in different locations from a centralised software. No more printing labels; no more sending staff on wild goose chases to swap out tags. Just quick, easy updates whenever you need them. Imagine being able to adjust your prices for a flash sale in minutes or quickly match a competitor’s price without breaking a sweat. That’s the kind of flexibility ESLs give you.

This kind of agility is a game-changer. You can react to market changes on the spot, match (or beat) competitor prices, and make sure your shelf prices always match what’s in your system. Time of day pricing. for example. Means you can run a special on coffee and donuts later in the day to move product and not have to dispose of unpurchased perishables. It’s like having a pricing superpower—and in today’s cutthroat market, that’s no small thing. Plus, think about how much time and money you’ll save on printing and labor costs. And these costs sure do add up fast.

Happy Staff, Happy Customers

Finding and keeping good staff is tough—we all know that. But ESLs can actually help with this too. Think about it: instead of wasting time on tedious price changes, your team can focus on what really matters. Taking care of customers. It’s a win-win. Your staff aren’t stuck doing mind-numbing tasks, and your customers get better service.

Displaydata talked to store owners who’ve implemented ESLs, and they all say the same thing—their employees are happier. They’re not bogged down with repetitive tasks, and they feel like they’re actually making a difference in the customer experience.

Plus, when your employees are happier, they’re more likely to stick around, which is always a good thing in this industry. Less turnover means less time and money spent on training, so you end up with less experienced staff to serve your customers.

Going Green

Here’s something you might not have thought about—ESLs are actually pretty eco-friendly. No more wasting reams of paper on price tags that’ll just end up in the trash. It’s good for the environment, sure, but it’s also good for your wallet. Less waste means lower costs, and who doesn’t want that?

But it’s not just about saving paper. Think about the energy saved from not having to print new labels all the time or the reduction in plastic waste from those little label holders. It all adds up. Plus, more and more customers these days care about businesses that are trying to be environmentally responsible – Displaydata has already taken great strides here. It’s a nice little reputation booster that can set you apart from the competition.

Wowing Your Customers

Now, let’s talk about customer experience. ESLs aren’t just about showing prices. These smart little screens can do all sorts of cool things. They can display special offers, show nutritional info, or even give loyalty club members personalized deals. It’s like having a little digital assistant for every product in your store.

Imagine a customer picking up a product and seeing not just the price but also whether it’s on sale, how many loyalty points they’ll earn, or even recipe ideas. That’s the kind of added value that keeps customers coming back. And in a world where convenience stores are competing not just with each other but with online retailers, anything that enhances the in-store experience is a big plus.

Keeping Things Accurate & Legal

Nobody likes surprises at the checkout, especially when it comes to pricing. With ESLs, what you see is what you get. These digital tags sync up with your point-of-sale system, so the price on the shelf is always the price at the register. No more pricing errors, no more unhappy customers, and no more worrying about compliance issues.

This is a bigger deal than you might think. In some places, if your shelf price doesn’t match your register price, you could be looking at fines. Plus, there’s nothing that erodes customer trust faster than feeling like they’ve been misled about pricing. With ESLs, you can avoid all that headache. It’s peace of mind for you and your customers.

Real Life Example – Buc-ee’s

You’ve heard of Buc-ee’s? They’re the rock stars of the convenience store world, especially in the mid to lower half of the USA. They’ve gone all-in on ESLs. They’ve put digital price tags on thousands of high volume items across their stores. And it’s working out great for them.

We talked to a manager at one of their stores, who was enthusiastic about the difference it’s made. He cited happy customers, efficient staff, and a shopping experience that’s hard to beat. He said it’s been a game-changer for managing their massive inventory and keeping up with their famous locally sourced and low prices items.

Now, I know what you’re thinking—”But I’m not Buc-ee’s! I don’t have their resources!” And fair point. But here’s the thing, if ESLs can work for a giant c-store like Buc-ee’s with their complex operations, imagine how much simpler they could make things for operation with fewer or smaller locations. It’s definitely worth considering. And you’ll be surprised how cost-effective they can be.

The Displaydata Difference

At Displaydata, our ESLs are designed to be cost-effective in the long run. One receiver can cover a store the size of a football field and batteries are guaranteed to last for ten years. All practical aspects have been considered. You don’t need to rewire your whole store or anything like that. And our software is completely user-friendly, so you’re not going to need a degree in computer science to figure it out. It’s the kind of solution that’s built for real-world use, not just to look good on paper.