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Digital age testing is coming!
Plan to attend this informative session to understand the new government digital ID program and how it will impact your business.
When: September 14th
Where: Toronto Congress Center (part of Convenience Carwax show)
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If you accepted VISA and Mastercard credit cards between March 23, 2001, and September 2, 2021, you may be eligible to receive money from the class actions settlements.
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Link to Full Article
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Neo On the Go is pleased to introduce you to our turnkey gas/convenience programmed to increase your sales, while improving the shopping experience for your customers.
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Link to Full Article
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Ontario has elected a majority PC Party led by Premier Ford and we hope this will help with the future of the entire small business sector including convenience stores.
There are many new MPP’s joining the PC Party and it is important that each family run convenience store reaches out to your MPP to build a business relationship.
We need a collective voice to encourage the government to move ahead with the past promise of putting beer in the entire convenience store channel.
Areas to discuss with your local MPP:
Beer for convenience stores – This would help small businesses in every community with a new offering and be convenient for local customers. We age test higher than any channel at 96.4% and have demonstrated responsibility selling all age restricted products.
Lottery Commissions – Still sits at a blended rate of 7.1% after 40 years while all our costs have gone up; labour, rent, electricity, and all goods. This is an easy way to assist stores throughout Ontario since we sell 81% of all lottery tickets.
Contraband Tobacco – 30% of all cigarette sales are illegal and untaxed in Ontario. Price and taxation increases continue to send our customers to indigenous reserves for cheap smokes. We need the government to take a serious look at this problem as it hurts our main business sales. Keep in mind convenience stores sell 95% of all legal tobacco for the government.
Gas & Dash – Gas thefts have tripled this year and the safety of our employees and customers is paramount as well as the issues of tying up Police Services for the 1000’s of drive-offs by criminals.
LCBO Agency Stores - If you have a government agency store to sell alcohol, now is the time to discuss business costs, low margins, lack of product mix and arrogance of how the LCBO treats their agency partners in Ontario. There is a need for a full review of this business model by the new government.
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Gas thefts continue to increase in every community, and we need legislation to protect your business, your employees and safety of all customers.
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Link to Full Article
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Our products are locally crafted in Whitby, Ontario using only premium cuts of meats. Canadians love our unique blend of spices which creates an addictive flavour profile that keeps customers coming back for more.
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Link to Full Article
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During the last two years we have seen less underage mystery shoppers in our sector by the local public health authorities and this is mainly due to Covid related issues.
We ask all convenience store owners to be vigilant with employee training and updates as we can anticipate a larger and potentially a more focused underage shopper program during the summer of 2022.
Areas to be updated:
Staff training - ensure your staff are updated on age testing procedures and aware of increased shops this summer. If not sure of any customer's ID or age, refuse the sale.
Signage - check to ensure all required signage is in place, visible and refreshed. A quick review only takes minutes.
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Convenience store retailers and the OCSA need to encourage the Ford administration to begin working on a transition to bring beer into all convenience stores as promised to consumers and retailer over 4 years ago.
The OCSA has been working alongside the Craft Brewers association to bring this file forward and need all convenience store owners to also get involved with their local MPP’s asking for this to now be advanced under the majority government.
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Link to Full Article
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BIC®, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, introduced the EZ Reach lighter, hailing it as the ultimate lighter for all lighting occasions. It is designed for lighting hard-to-reach places while helping to keep fingers away from the flame.
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Link to Full Article
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The show is back at the Congress Center.
Coupon code: OCSA
(grants you complimentary access to the show)
Register Now!
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Link to Register
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Canada announces the ban on the following items:
- Checkout bags
- Cutlery
- Foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics that are hard to recycle
- Ring carriers
- Stir sticks
- Straws (with some exceptions)
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Link to Full Article
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Congratulations to all of these outstanding individuals!
These women rise to any challenge, inspire those around them and create extraordinary value, not only for their companies, but also customers, clients and industry partners.
They deserve to be celebrated for their achievements!
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Click to see all winners
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The LCBO has become insensitive to their convenience outlet partners.
Many convenience operators have become more vocal on the difficulties they encounter when working with this government agency.
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Link to Full Article
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The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) works year-round to advocate for convenience stores throughout the province, supporting large and small family-run business alike, communicating with the government on relevant files and innovating ways to push the channel forward.
Among the OCSA's current projects are securing beer and wine in convenience stores, advocating for a larger portion of lottery commissions and working with the appropriate authorities to spread awareness about the negative impacts of contraband tobacco.
Your voice is welcome. Join the OCSA today!
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Join the OCSA
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