In a recent post, Beyond the Microwave: Hot Food Options for Your C-Store, we gave you a taste of some options for providing hot food offerings in your C-Store. This week, we’d like to address equipment and design requirements around food safety.

Topics: Current Trends, Innovation, C-Store and Quick-Service, Gas and Petroleum Stations, Commercial and Retail

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Running out of gas in a car is embarrassing. Running out of fuel at a gas station and turning away customers is unforgiveable. Fortunately, your fuel management system is there to keep you on top of your current inventory levels… and much more.

Topics: Gas and Petroleum Stations

Why it makes sense to plan for a Remotely Monitored Retail Site at the time of your build.

Recently, CTM has worked on several design projects involving Unattended Self Service Outlets (also known as Remotely Monitored Retail Sites).

It is a relatively new business model that allows an owner to run a gas bar without the need for onsite staff. Currently, Alberta and Ontario are the only provinces to permit these types of operations.

Topics: Current Trends, Gas and Petroleum Stations, Car Wash

The "Car Wash Study" provides curious insights into consumer behaviour.

As a business owner, you’d love to get inside the heads of your customers in order to see what motivates them.

That’s exactly what consumer research is all about. Researchers devise psychological studies to test how consumers respond to certain offers and marketing approaches. Often the results are surprising... and even counterintuitive.

Topics: Current Trends, Gas and Petroleum Stations, Car Wash

Radio frequency technology next step for fleet vehicles.

In business you need to be nimble. Yet it can be challenging to stay on top of technology trends.

One advance that should be on your radar if you cater to fleet vehicles is the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It is something we expect will be widely adopted in fuelling and carwash applications in the years to come.

Topics: Current Trends, Design, Gas and Petroleum Stations, Car Wash

New products to look for at CARWACS 2015!

On November 17^th and 18^th, the Convenience U CARWACS Show is coming to Calgary at the BMO Centre.

As Western Canada’s largest convenience, gas and car wash events it is a chance to discover the latest and greatest developments when you peruse the tradeshow floor.

Topics: Current Trends, Design, Company News, Gas and Petroleum Stations, Car Wash

How to save water in your carwash using environmentally responsible reclamation systems.

Car washes take a lot of water to operate. And these days, there is a great deal of public pressure to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. Fortunately, you can save a lot of water – and also reduce the associated operating costs – by choosing the right solution.

Topics: Current Trends, Design, Gas and Petroleum Stations

Independents increasing look to CTM to help with custom planning and design.

CTM has been designing carwashes from Day 1. All in, we’ve probably helped build well over a hundred car washes – serving motorists from Vancouver Island to Ontario.

Topics: Current Trends, Design, Gas and Petroleum Stations

Benefits and considerations when installing a service station canopy.

When building a gas station, many owners debate whether or not they should include a canopy as part of the design.

Topics: Current Trends, Design, Gas and Petroleum Stations

Modern bathrooms make a fresh impression with customers. 

Until recently, the gas station washroom served a strictly utilitarian role. They were simple, plain, nothing flashy. Yet, with neglect, many had developed a reputation for being grungy – something to avoid except in the case of extreme emergency (particularly among female customers).

Topics: Current Trends, Design, C-Store and Quick-Service, Gas and Petroleum Stations