Thrive
This podcast is for assistant managers looking to get promoted to store managers and new store managers. Getting promoted is the easy part. Keeping the job and becoming good at it is where I can help. Good results, good work-life balance, and big bonuses are what I'm talking about!
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THE CASH REGISTER CAGE MATCH
<p>Episode Title: The Cash Register Cage Match: Speed vs. Accuracy (Episode 80)</p><p>Episode Description: You see the line building up. You see your cashier panic. So, what do you do? You jump on the second register and kill the line yourself.</p><p>You just saved the moment, but you hurt your store.</p><p>For a Store Manager, the "Cash Register Cage Match" isn't about how fast you can ring; it's about how fast your team can ring when you aren't standing there. If you have to rescue your shift every day, you haven't trained them—you've en...
THE 10-SECOND AUDITION
<p>Episode Title: The 10-Second Audition: Why Customers Drive By Your Store (Episode 79)</p><p>Episode Description: Stop me if you’ve done this: You drive past a restaurant because the sign is flickering or the parking lot looks dark. You didn't taste the food, but you judged the business instantly.</p><p>Your customers are doing the same thing to your store every single night.</p><p>In this episode of C-Store Legends, Mike Hernandez breaks down the "Front Stage" concept. Most employees think their job starts when they clock in, but the sale is actually won or lost in...
The 5 Levels of C-Store Mastery: From Dive to Arrive
<p>Episode Title: The 5 Levels of C-Store Mastery: From Dive to Arrive</p><p>Episode Description: Retail training is broken. It’s passive, boring, and frankly, it doesn’t stick. Today, we are pausing the standard playbook to introduce the new reality of the industry: Sink or Swim.</p><p>In this episode, Mike Hernandez breaks down the "Old Way" of training versus the "New Era" of the Operator. We introduce the 5 stages of a convenience store career and the specific mindset shift required to master each one:</p>Dive (Sales Associate): How to stop drowning in the details.Survive (Assi...
Convenience Store Success: Program Recap and Future Outlook
<p>Episode 77 Show Notes: </p><p>Convenience Store Success - Program Recap and Future Outlook</p><p>Episode Description</p><p>In this milestone final episode of the "Thrive" series from C-Store Center, host Mike Hernandez celebrates the journey we've taken together and charts the exciting path forward for convenience store leaders.</p><p>Join us as we explore the remarkable success stories from managers like Sarah in Milwaukee who cut waste by 40%, and Marcus in Phoenix who transformed his team using our training techniques. This isn't just a conclusion - it's a bridge to your next level of growth, w...
Convenience Store Success: Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness
<p>Episode 76 Show Notes: </p><p>Convenience Store Success - Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness</p><p>Episode Description</p><p>In this vital episode of "Thrive from C-Store Center," host Mike Hernandez delivers essential guidance on crisis management and emergency preparedness - or as he calls it, "planning for the worst while hoping for the best."</p><p>Learn how proper emergency planning saved one store 80% of their perishable inventory during a 12-hour power outage, while unprepared competitors faced thousands in losses. Discover why convenience stores are essential community lifelines during emergencies and how you can fulfill this role w...
Convenience Store Success: Financial Analysis and Profitability
<p>THRIVE Podcast - Episode 75 Notes<br><br></p><p>Episode Title: Convenience Store Success: Financial Analysis and Profitability<br><br></p><p>Host: Mike Hernandez</p><p>Episode Description: In this essential episode of Thrive, host Mike Hernandez reveals how convenience store managers can transform overwhelming financial data into actionable insights that drive profits. Learn how one manager discovered a hidden pricing strategy that boosted profits by 20%—simply by analyzing which products had the highest margins. Transform your daily reports from confusing paperwork to a crystal-clear roadmap for success, without needing an accounting degree.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:<br...
Convenience Store Success: Effective Promotions and Sales Techniques
<p>THRIVE Podcast – Episode 74 Notes<br><br></p><p>Episode Title: Convenience Store Success: Effective Promotions and Sales Techniques<br><br></p><p>Host: Mike Hernandez</p><p>Episode Description: In this profit-boosting episode of Thrive, host Mike Hernandez reveals strategies for creating effective promotions and sales techniques that increase your convenience store's revenue without sacrificing margins. Learn how to move beyond simple discounting to develop promotions that create new buying habits, increase basket size, and drive customer loyalty—turning your promotions from margin-killers into sales machines.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:<br><br></p>Planning strategic promotions tailored for the...
Convenience Store Success: Employee Training and Development
<p>THRIVE Podcast - Episode 73 Notes<br><br></p><p>Episode Title: Convenience Store Success: Employee Training and Development<br><br></p><p>Host: Mike Hernandez</p><p>Episode Description: In this essential episode of Thrive, host Mike Hernandez explores how effective employee training can transform your convenience store's performance while significantly reducing turnover. Learn practical, real-world strategies for developing your team that go beyond basic onboarding—turning your training program from a necessary task into a powerful tool for store success and employee retention.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:<br><br></p>Designing training programs that work in the fa...
Convenience Store Success: Managing Inventory and Supply Chain
<p>THRIVE Podcast - Episode 72 Notes<br><br></p><p>Episode Title: Convenience Store Success: Managing Inventory and Supply Chain<br><br></p><p>Host: Mike Hernandez</p><p>Episode Description: In this profit-boosting episode of Thrive, host Mike Hernandez reveals practical strategies for mastering inventory and supply chain management in your convenience store. Learn how to transform your inventory from a constant headache into a powerful profit driver with systems that ensure you have the right products at the right time—while keeping your cash flow healthy and your customers satisfied.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:<br><br></p>Es...
Convenience Store Success: Store Layout and Visual Merchandising
<p>THRIVE Podcast - Episode 71 Notes<br><br></p><p>Episode Title: Convenience Store Success: Store Layout and Visual Merchandising<br><br></p><p>Host: Mike Hernandez</p><p>Episode Description: In this transformative episode of Thrive, host Mike Hernandez reveals how convenience store managers can turn their store layout and visual merchandising into powerful sales tools. Learn practical strategies to optimize every square foot of your store, guide customer flow patterns, and strategically place products to increase impulse purchases and average transaction values.</p><p>Key Topics Covered:<br><br></p>Understanding and leveraging natural customer flow patternsCreating effective...
