Retail Partners Receive Support for EMV Compliance, Financing and More
SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 21, 2015) During his 19 years in the downstream business, Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels, Inc., saw how difficult it was for c-store owners and distributors to adapt to changes in the industry. From shrinking margins and growing competition to EMV and PCI compliance, retailers continue to scramble for solutions.
According to Cerwick, that experience drove him to conceive a “game-changing business model” that provides the solutions distributors and petroleum retailers need to be more successful. It also led to his conclusion that VP Racing Fuels was the only brand that could execute it. “Given the state of the retail petroleum industry today, being tied to a major brand is no guarantee of success – more like a noose that keeps tightening. VP is truly in a unique position to address all the constraints levied on petroleum retailers by major brands.”
“I view the solutions we offer in four key categories – expense reduction, revenue enhancement, equipment financing, and most recently, assistance with EMV compliance,” said Cerwick. “On the expense side, our credit card solution reduces the retailer’s expense on every transaction with the lowest processing fees in the industry, and we also give them the freedom to buy fuel on the open market, saving up to $.08-.10 on every gallon purchased. Combined, the total savings are substantial.”
“Regarding revenue, not only has our solution led to increased volumes of regular and premium gallons sold at every location that has converted to the VP brand to date, but VP-branded products create totally new revenue streams that aren’t available with any other brand,” Cerwick continued. “These stores become a destination for performance enthusiasts looking for VP’s off-road race fuel blends, performance chemicals, small engine fuels, apparel and other products, each of which is high ring and high margin.”
“Financing capital investments can be a concern for store owners so we provide a solution through our preferred lender, Allied Brand Services (ABS), Cerwick added. According to Mike Cerminaro, President of Allied Brand Services, ABS provides VP’s retail partners up to 100% financing and other favorable terms for reimaging and signage, discounted POS system prices, 0% financing on fuel dispensers and other attractive vendor financing programs.
“Most recently, store owners have become increasingly concerned about EMV compliance,” said Cerwick. “In response, VP has created a new website — EMVsolved.com. It’s designed to provide store owners with comprehensive information about EMV and PCI compliance and includes several videos produced by ABS that explain these issues and the options available to petroleum retailers.
Cerminaro added, “The requirements for EMV and PCI compliance are complex and expensive, requiring chip-enabled terminals inside the store, compatible data transmission lines and equipment upgrades in the forecourt. ABS can help retailers understand what’s involved in all these upgrades, how to implement them most efficiently and cost-effectively, and provide the necessary financing under very favorable terms.”
On behalf of VP-branded dealers, ABS also has negotiated preferred pricing with the major equipment manufacturers on a broad range of EMV compliant equipment. This includes state-of-the-art POS system equipment from NCR, Verifone and others, as well as the newest fuel dispensers from Gilbarco and Wayne. More information about EMV compliance and financing capital investments is available at alliedbrandservices.com.
VP’s retail branding program continues to gain momentum. It has now partnered with distributors that collectively service more than 3000 retail locations in 40+ states. Stations have been converted to the VP brand in 14 states from Oregon to Georgia and Vermont to Arizona, with many more in the pipeline.
“Our branding program is a game-changer because it puts the retailers’ interests first,” Cerwick concluded. “We want retailers to see us as partners with solutions rather than bosses with demands. Retailers who are flying the VP colors have more freedom, more control over their business and they make more money. Their buy-in validates the strength of the VP brand and gives us great confidence in the long-term success of our program.”
For more information about VP’s Retail Brand program, visit VPRacingFuels.com/Branding or contact:
Southeastern/Mid-Atlantic
Ted Tritt – 210-510-8409 or [email protected]
Upper Midwest/Northeast
Matt Schuster – 210-784-6708 or [email protected]
South Central/West
Bryan Noonen – 210-289-6000 or [email protected]
About VP Racing Fuels
VP Racing Fuels is best known as the World Leader in Race Fuel Technology™, fueling champions in virtually every form of motorsport on land, sea and air since 1975. VP is the Official Racing Fuel of Tudor United SportsCar Championship, AMA Supercross, NMRA, NMCA, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, Pirelli World Challenge, PDRA and Rally America, among more than 60 VP-sponsored series and sanctioning bodies.
As part of its retail branding program, gas stations and convenience stores across the U.S. are being branded as VP Racing Fuels, with each providing distribution for VP’s other product lines, including ethanol-free VP Small Engine Fuels, formulated for 2- and 4-cycle outdoor power equipment; VP Madditive performance chemicals; VP PowerWash™ and more. VP also markets VP PowerMaster® hobby fuels for R/C racing. More information is available online at VPRacingFuels.com, VP-SEF.com or PowermasterFuels.com.
About Allied Brand Services
Allied Brand Services is a leading specialty equipment finance company focused exclusively on the retail petroleum industry. ABS is a Preferred Financing Partner of VP Racing Fuels, Brenntag North America for their bulk DEF equipment program and a variety of equipment manufacturers, independent gas distributors and Jobbers.
