ALEXANDRIA, VA – NACS has published a Site Approval Toolkit to share strategies for retailers seeking zoning approvals. The 32-page NACS Site Approval Toolkit is designed to help convenience retailers — whether a one-store operator or chain looking to grow store count or modernize a site’s operations — to better understand the planning process and address community concerns. It is the latest deliverable from the NACS reFresh initiative that addresses ongoing industry perceptions by providing convenience retailers with tools to evolve their in-store offer and elevate their image in their community.

The NACS Site Approval Toolkit describes typical participants in the planning process and general “nuts and bolts” that comprise the framework of local planning. Each stage of the process is examined and broad strategies and ideas are provided to consider in the development of a site approval plan.

“Increasingly, NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) concerns raised in zoning approval hearings have made the zoning approval process increasingly complex and difficult to navigate for retailers looking to remodel existing locations or add new locations. While each approval process is admittedly unique, the Site Approval Toolkit will help retailers navigate the process in a more streamlined manner,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

The primer is the fifth deliverable that is part of the NACS reFresh initiative that addresses ongoing industry perceptions by providing convenience retailers with tools to evolve their in-store offer and elevate their image in their communities.

Last month, NACS released the “NACS Public Relations Toolkit,” which includes overviews, tips and examples of how to create and refine a public relations program; “How Convenience Stores Work and Their Contributions to Communities,” a primer defining 10 key areas of the convenience store business; and “Building the Business Case for Produce Sales at Convenience Stores,” the first primer co-published by NACS and United Fresh to help grow produce sales in convenience stores. In late 2014, NACS also posted more than 100 Ideas 2 Go video segments that showcase exceptional convenience retailing, and more than 150 videos are now available online.

“The NACS reFresh initiative provides valuable insights about the contributions convenience stores are delivering to the communities they serve. We will continue to publish toolkits and share ideas to grow sales, seek out thoughtful partnerships with like-minded groups and develop new research that can help define our industry’s value to the communities that we serve,” said Lenard.
More information on the refresh initiative is at www.nacsonline.com/refresh.