LEAVING MAJOR BRANDS, GAINING BIG GROWTH

Challenge

After 20 years of operating gas stations and convenience stores in Southern California, Eddie Awada knew that growth with the major oil brands was limiting his gallon growth and his margins. Awada operated four stations under both the 76 and Shell brands and made a good living, but not the return on his time and money that he felt was fair. He believed that he was not reaping the rewards that were rightfully his.

Awada decided he had to make a change to reach his higher goals: more significant traffic, higher gasoline sales, and more jingle in his pockets. As Awada contemplated making a change, he understood that there was always an associated risk. Changing his stores from the major brands was an option he considered, but he was concerned that such a change might lose current customers before gaining new ones. His immediate solution was to remain with his biggest major brand, Shell, and experiment with one of his 76 branded locations, but with what brand; what image was best for his test store?

He found little in the way of alternative brands. Having already decided to leave one major oil brand, he faced choosing among the second-tier brands. But would those brands help him reach his goals?

Result

After his first store’s conversion to VP, Awada saw an immediate improvement in his business metrics, all heading up in the right direction. Since rebranding to VP, that first location surpassed Awada’s goals, with increased traffic and growth in gasoline sales from 70,000 gallons per month to 220,000 gallons per month!

Soon after converting and seeing the results, Awada decided to convert one of his Shell-branded stations. Another significant jump in gallons was reached, from 60,000 per month to 130,000 per month. Awada was on a roll. So he did the natural thing, he converted a third store, and the results were as impressive as at the first two stores. And a fourth reimaging is in the works, bringing all of his locations under the VP Branded umbrella.

C-store sales have also seen a boost, with in-store sales up 100% across Awada’s locations. He traced part of this in-store success to the rejuvenation of the automotive section of the store with the addition of VP’s professional-grade consumer products and promotional products, including Madditive® fuel and oil additives, motor oils, and outdoor equipment fuels and lubricants, plus VP-branded gear. Another lucrative revenue stream is having the exclusive rights to place a cage outside the building, where one can find VP Race Fuels, which attract new customers and provide high-margin sales.

Awada gives a good deal of credit to VP’s consultation, marketing support, and lifestyle identity. He says he has never experienced such professional assistance and tips his hat to VP’s nearly 50-year racing heritage and the unique lifestyle cachet of his new stations.

The crowded gasoline station marketplace in Southern California hasn’t become less challenging for any operator, but Awada feels he now has the edge over others. “Competition remains strong and plentiful, says Awada, “however, now I feel I’m the strongest.”