Stories have been told since the beginning of time, and they are still the most effective part of our everyday communications. At NACS, a big part of our storytelling is directed at Capitol Hill. The NACS In Store program is an important chapter where we invite elected officials into their local convenience stores. This program grants retailers the opportunity to give their legislators a behind-the-scenes look at running a convenience store, as well as demonstrate how decisions made in Washington D.C., affect their daily lives.
Freshmen Members
At the start of a new political cycle, it is critical to make an impression and tell your story to new members of Congress, since they are still formulating their positions on the hundreds of issues they’ll face in office. This year, the NACS Government Relations team has focused on bringing these freshmen members of Congress into c-stores across the United States. By bringing them into our stores and sharing our stories, we can develop relationships with members and build them into champions for our industry. Our objective is that they will take what they learned at the pump and behind the counter and bring it with them to Capitol Hill.
By bringing elected officials into our stores and sharing our stories, we can develop relationships and build them into champions for our industry.
In June, Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) toured Casey’s in Pillager, Minnesota:
In July, Rep. William Timmons (R-SC-04) visited his favorite convenience store, Spinx, in Greenville, South Carolina:
Family-owned Lou Perrine’s Gas & Grocery, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, hosted Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI-01) in August:
Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY-22) stepped behind the counter of a Mirabito Convenience Store in Castle Creek, New York, in August:
It’s our hope that NACS In Store creates a lasting connection between retailers and new members of Congress. We want these legislators to remember our story when faced with issues in Washington that will impact the convenience stores where they serve their constituents, and we want them to call upon our retailers for their input.
Celebrating 100
This summer has been busy for NACS In Store. So busy, in fact, that we just celebrated our 100th In Store event! This visit followed the same format as our other In Store events with one new twist—we brought together a Republican and two Democrats in our nation’s capital. Chris Gheysens, CEO of Wawa, hosted Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Greg Walden (R-OR) and Peter Welch (D-VT) for our 100th In Store at a new Wawa store in the District of Columbia. These congressmen are all champions of our industry on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and it was important for them to be part of this monumental chapter in our story by stepping away from the Hill and getting behind the counter.
By bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we wanted to highlight how convenience truly is a bipartisan issue. Customers were surprised to see three congressmen donning Wawa shirts and name badges, and they loved seeing these legislators working together ringing up their morning coffees.
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) chats with NACS staff and Wawa's CEO Chris Gheysens (fourth from left) during NACS 100th In Store visit.
“We are proud to host NACS 100th In Store and these three distinguished members of Congress. It was a fantastic experience and so good to have everyone here today,” said Chris Gheysens, CEO of Wawa.
“What you do is important, and we’re here in Washington so we can support you,” said Rep. Walden when asked what he would say to members of the convenience and fuel retailing industry, and the other congressmen agreed.
Convenience crosses party lines and brings people together. Half of America shops at a convenience store every day, and this is at the root of our story. Everyone needs convenience.
As we come to the end of this chapter of the In Store program, we look forward to the next 100 visits in our story!