By Frank Gleeson

My first NACS Show was in Las Vegas in the early 2000s. I was part of a study tour that brought me from Ireland to the United States—New England, Florida, Washington, D.C.—and then finally to the NACS Show.

At the time I was working at Statoil in Ireland. Compared to progressive operators from the States, our offer was underdeveloped and we wanted to expand into food and grow our CPG offer. Walking the Expo floor, it was obvious that everything we needed to see was there—new products, foodservice, technology, equipment. My team also met other operators who were already doing what we at scale what we wanted to bring to our stores.

The NACS Show—quite literally—transformed our business because it presented a full view of where convenience retail was heading.

Since then, it became a must-attend for me. The connections and networking matter, and the Expo is a powerful way to learn fast.

Each year, I always found something new I could bring back to the business. And it’s not just the Expo. The Education Sessions have grown phenomenally to touch every aspect of the c-store business. More than 50 sessions, created by retailers for retailers, deliver content that’s impactful and relevant.

All together—education, networking and the Expo—four days at the NACS Show is an incredibly efficient use of time, particularly for the small- to mid-size companies that need to learn quickly and act decisively.

One Idea Is All You Need

You only need one idea to transform your business. Whether it’s a new product, a new category, a new piece of equipment, a new partner or a new way of thinking about your store, you can find it at the NACS Show.

The value can look different depending on where you are on your development curve. For smaller operators, it might be products and equipment. For medium to larger operators, it may be strategy—how technology is evolving and what the next competitive advantage looks like. The NACS Show has something for everybody.

If you’ve never attended the NACS Show before, consider this your invitation. Come with curiosity and an open mind. Walk the Expo. Attend the Education Sessions. Find new products, services and solutions you haven’t already seen in your market. Capture ideas that inspire you and bring them back home to your stores.

Make it your goal to find an insight, connection or idea that makes you think differently about your business. That’s where the real value starts, and why the NACS Show is worth the investment.