S O U T H C A R O L I N A A S S O C I A T I O N O F C O N V E N I E N C E S T O R E S

C SS C A

- Winter Edition 2014 -

One Industry, One Associationand

One Member at a Time

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Inside This Issue

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The Planning Conference was held in Myrtle Beach this year, and we had one of the best yet. Read pages 13-14 on how we built a better as-sociation and about our 2015 focus.

The Education Committee got together with a few retailers and NACS Education Director Dr. Nancy Caldarola to discuss the industry top issues and SCACS education topics for 2015. Please see what they discovered on page 18.

The 2014 Annual Convention was a suc-cess. Please read pages 7 -12 about the recap and award winners who were rec-ognized at this year’s convention. Also, save the date for 2015!

SC Elections were held in November. Please read pages 16 -17 for our leg-islative updates on the elections and go ahead and mark your calendar for the 2015 Retail Day.

With your new 2015 calendars just arriving, don’t forget to add SCACS dates. See page 23.

4The SE Petro Show is right around the corner. Read pages 4 - 6 to see this year’s schedule and don’t forget to register for the breakfast social on Thursday, March 5.

Federated Mutual Insurance Company • Federated Service Insurance Company* • Federated Life Insurance CompanyOwatonna, Minnesota 55060 • Phone: (507) 455-5200 • www.federatedinsurance.com *Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2014 Federated Mutual Insurance Company

Every employer, no matter what size, has to deal with human resource issues, regulations, and employment law changes. Contact your local marketing representative to learn how Federated Insurance can provide you with resources to help with employment law issues like harassment, discrimination, hiring and firing practices, and employment eligibility documentation.Visit www.federatedinsurance.com to find a representative near you.

Are You Ready for an I-9 Audit?

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PRESIDENT’STHE

LETTER

This issue of the newsletter contains a lot of important information. A fine example is the Planning Conference recap. The event was a great opportunity to start getting involved and becoming more active in SCACS. If you weren’t able to make it, there are still numerous ways to become involved. Simply reach out to SCACS headquarters, and let them know you are interested. You will also find the 2015 SE Petro Show agenda and your invitation to the SCACS breakfast held during the SE Petro Show. Please look for all the save the date invites throughout the newsletter. Definitely add those dates to your calendar.

In this issue, PAC and Scholarship donors are listed. There is also a recap of the convention and its sponsors. Programs like these are possible because of the sponsor support. Thank them by using their products and services when possible throughout the year. We celebrated past presidents and our SCACS award winners again during the convention. Please read the legislative end of year recap and look at what is to come at the State House for 2015. You will also find an education article on a brainstorming session of topics to come for 2015 education.

As we roll into 2015, remember to renew your SCACS membership and make a commitment to get involved and get the most out of your membership.

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve you.

Please contact me or SCACS staff with any concerns, questions, or suggestions to improve your newsletter.

Sincerely, Bonnie HartThe City Marina Sea Store

Executive OfficersBonnie Hart, President The City Marina Sea StoreSheri Mehaffey, Vice President Blythewood Oil CompanyChris Corn, Treasurer Little Giant Food Stores, Inc. Rich Mione, Secretary GPM Investments, LLCLarry Lytle, Asst. Secretary WilcoHess, LLCJack O’Malley, Immediate Past President Bountyland Quick StopsBill Hooker, Vice President of Associates Snyder’s - Lance

Board MembersSean Bishop - PepsiCoMargie Boyar - Coca-Cola Bottling Co. ConsolidatedIrvin Cauthen - Plez-U Food Stores, Inc.Dean Cline, Sr. - Cline & AssociatesRiley Cordell - PET DairyKenneth Cosgrove - Piedmont Petroleum Corp.Hal Crenshaw - Crenco Food Stores, Inc.Dean Davis - Nestle DSDGary Dozier - J.T. Davenport & Sons, Inc.Jeff Ham - RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.Mike Jones - Frito-Lay, Inc.David Jordan - R.L. Jordan Oil Company Steve Kirby - Hackney Service MerchandisersRichard Little - Smith Rogers Oil Company, Inc.Mike Morrow - Lorillard Tobacco Co.Brad Poe - Buck Management Corp.Doug Rohe - Hess CorportaionDeborah Thevaos - S & D Coffee and Tea, Inc.Brent Townsend - Sav-A-Step, LLCJaime Vavrick - MillerCoorsLee Webster - Anheuser-Busch, Inc.Lex West - West Oil Company

SCACS StaffLeigh Faircloth, CAE, Executive DirectorHannah Griffin, SCACS Account ExecutiveKatie Koon, CAE

SCACS LobbyistRobert Adams2

014-2015 BOARD MEMBERS

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Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Expo Educational SessionsWe have some really good seminars scheduled for the Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Expo. Make sure you plan to be present and bring enough of your key employees to attend all the seminars.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Meeting Room 103 – 8:30-9:15 am“Hiring Practices”Presenter - Garrett Pepper, Federated Insurance Company

Meeting Room 104 – 8:30-9 am“Hydrocarbon Refrigerants – The Future of Commercial Refrigeration”Presenter: Larry Privette, True Food Service Equipment, Inc.

Meeting Room 106/107 – 8-9 am“What’s New for the C-Store”Panel will touch on technology (cyber security, skimming at the pump), food,general merchandise, novelty, etc.Panel Moderator: Dean Cline, Cline & Associates

Meeting Room 108 – 8:30-9:30 am“The Classic 105 Program”The Classic 105 Program was designed in answer to mandatory health coveragelaw. The 105 Program provides funds for each participant and are strictly used tosubsidize the cost of qualified medical expenses that are not paid for by theirmajor medical plan. The program’s design results in available medicalreimbursement funds for every participant at no cost to the employee or employerfor participation.Presenter - Catherine Bell, Workforce Benefits

Meeting Room 202 – 8:30-9:30 am“The Gas Station Century”The program will feature a slide show presentation of a century of gas stationinnovation, presented in a photojournalistic format.Presenter: Wayne Henderson, Petroleum Specialties

Meeting Room 203 – 8:30-9:30 am“Changes in the Car Wash Industry & How to Grow Your Business”Presenter: Dale Reynolds, Carolina Pride Carwash Systems & Solutions

Meeting Room 204 – 8:30-9:30 am“Alternatives to Credit Cards”Presenter: Dan Eloe, Triple E Technologies

Thursday, March 5, 2015 - SCACS BREAKFAST SOCIAL AT THE PETRO SHOW

SC Association of Convenience Stores will host a breakfast social at the SE Petro Show. Stop by Room 202 in the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel on Thursday, March 5 starting at 8 am. Socialize with other SCACS members before heading to the show floor to see the vendors. The breakfast invitation is on page 6. Please let SCACS staff know if you are plan-ning to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

Be sure and stop by the SCACS booth #536 when you are on the trade show floor! If you would like to volunteer to work the booth at any food show that you attend, please let hannah@scacs.org know.

2015

PETR

O SH

OW SC

HEDU

LE

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Yes. I plan to attend SCACS’s Petro Show Breakfast.(Please print)

Name__________________________________________________

Company Name_________________________________________

Phone ___________________Email _________________________

Please fax completed form to (803) 252-7799 or e-mail hannah@scacs.org.

SC Association of Convenience Stores 2015 Petro Show Breakfast

Thursday, March 58:00 - 9:00 am

Sheraton Hotel, Room 202 (new room)Myrtle Beach, SC

Breakfast served at 8:00 am and program info starts at 8:30 am.

This event was created to provide our many and busy members who attend the Petro Show an opportunity to visit/mix and mingle with other members versus “passing each other by

on the trade show floor.”Please let association staff know if you will be able to attend by completing the form below

and faxing it to (803) 252-7799 or calling SCACS Headquarters at (803) 419-0804.

Thank you in advance for your response!

You are Invited to a SCACS Breakfast

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The SCACS Convention Committee faced some challenges this year as consolidation throughout our industry continued. This reinforced the importance of providing value for the money and time that was invested in attending and sponsoring the convention. The exciting news was that Past Presidents of SCACS were invited as we looked back and moved forward.

The convention had retailers in attendance who represented more than 583 stores in South Carolina and 8,735 stores nationwide. We worked to make this annual convention a premier event for anyone doing business in our industry in South Carolina.

SCACS put together an exciting schedule that allowed us to learn from the past and prepare for the future. The opportunity to network and relax a bit provided for a rewarding convention.

The following are some the highlights of this year’s convention:There were 406 attendees.

SCACS Past Presidents were recognized on Sunday night.

Sunday night we welcomed back Tom Deluca who entertained us using SCACS members as the stars of his hypnotist show.

A distinguished group of state legislators conducted our annual legislative panel on Monday morning discuss-ing issues that affected the industry.

Tuesday morning, SCACS Past Presidents talked about issues they faced during their lead-ership years.

Joan Tipton highlighted consumer changes that affected the industry. The presentation was held

on Tuesday morning following the Past Presidents panel.

The live auction was held Monday night and was our largest fundraising event to date.

Back by popular demand we featured “Family Night” on Tuesday night with a 70’s theme. Members showed off their bell bottoms, tie dye t-shirts and enjoyed a fun filled evening.

2014 Convention Recap Past to Present

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vSilver SponsorsvBIC Consumer Products USADr. Pepper Snapple Group/Cline & AssociatesKellogg’s CompanyNJOY Electronic CigarettesS&D Coffee and Tea, Inc.Swedish MatchSwisher InternationalThe Hershey Company

vDiamond SponsorsvCoca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated PepsicovEmerald SponsorsvAnheuser-Busch, Inc.MillerCoorsPET DairyRJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.Snyder’s-Lance

vPlatinum SponsorsvAltria Sales and Distribution, Inc.Federated InsuranceGold Peak CoffeeHackney Service MerchandisersJ.T. Davenport & Sons, A Division of Core-MarkMcLane Company

vGold SponsorsvARMAC, Inc.MARS Chocolate North America

2014 Convention Sponsors - Thank you for your support!

vBronze SponsorsvAssociated Distributors

Atlantic DominionCarolina Beverage Corp./Cheerwine

CITGO PetroleumCommonwealth Altadis, Inc.

Eby-Brown Company, LLCGolden Flake Snack Foods, Inc.

JL GaddyLiggett Vector Brands

Lil Drug StoreLorillard Tobacco Company

M.R. WilliamsNestle Sales Division

Royal Cup CoffeeSouthco Distributing Co.

Sunny Delight Beverage Company

vPatron SponsorsvConAgra Foods

Intralot (SC Education Lottery)Jack Links/SellEthics

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2014

WINN

ERS

2014 RETAILER OF THE YEARStop-A-Minit

2014 INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR

The City Marina Sea Store

When you compare more than 3,000 convenience stores across the state, you have many, many factors to take into consideration, and many hard working businesses to compete against for Retailer of the Year.

It takes years and years of hard work and building a long-standing business, and a focused effort to build it right to be considered for this award.

Stop-A-Minit is no stranger to the concept of hard work and focused, strategic growth. In fact, this year, the company grew to 20 stores.

Both Brent and Stop-A-Minit are known in the community as local supporters that have a sincere and genuine interest in the community and those who live there.

Stop-A-Minit is recognized for customer service that is considered “above and beyond.”

It’s tough to be a business owner with all of the rules, regulations, and laws to comply with, not to mention dealing with the curve ball the economy has thrown at businesses over the last few years.

Our winner, Drake Convenience, doing business as Stop-A-Minit, has not only survived, but thrived. From growing more stores to maintaining an impeccable reputation for customer service, we are proud to recognize Brent Drake from Drake Convenience and Stop-A-Minit as the 2014 Retailer of the Year.

SCACS’s 2014 Independent Retailer Award went to one of our own; a single store operation located in the tough Charleston market.

At its annual convention, SCACSbestowed this honor on The City Marina Sea Store.

The nomination letter for this award included highlights about the store such as “the store is top-notch, al-ways clean, well stocked, and offers a large variety of options for its customers.” The nomination also included specific remarks about the store manager’s professionalism and fairness in business negotiations. This store manager is SCACS member Bonnie Hart.

Bonnie has worked in the Charleston market for 23 years and has worked with and for a number of our retail members. She has been an active member in SCACS for close to 10 years. In fact, Bonnie is the association’s first female president.

We hope you’ll join SCACS in recognizing and celebrating The City Marina Sea Store for winning the association’s 2014 Independent Retailer of the Year Award.

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2014 SUPPLIER OF THE YEARSell Ethics/Jack Link’s Beef Jerky

When it comes to suppliers in the industry, we don’t even have a number of how many companies would be eligible for the SCACS Supplier of the Year Award. It may be safe to say that new suppliers come into our market almost daily.

The 2014 Supplier of the Year Award winner was nominated by a retail customer who commented that the company, and specifically one of its employees, Wayne Barlow, could be counted on during good times and during the tough times.

It is considered a bonus when SCACS can also say how much the company and its representatives are involved in volunteering and participating in the association. This is true of Sell Ethics Marketing Group, Inc./Jack Link’s Beef Jerky , our 2014 Supplier of the Year.

Please join the Awards Committee and the SCACS leadership in recognizing Sell Ethics Marketing Group, Inc./Jack Link’s Beef Jerky for their involvement and commitment to the industry and the association.

2014 STORE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Dale Feagin

This summer, Kenneth “Dale” Feagin was surprised with an in-store recognition that he had been selected as the 2014 Store Manager of the Year from the South Carolina Association of Convenience Store (SCACS).

Dale is the manager of Hess Express in Goose Creek, SC.

Dale volunteers as guest services manager for his company and has trained more than 200 employees. He is a certified manager for the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas. He has even trained one general manager and two assistant managers. In 2013, he was selected as his company’s “Region 4 Manager of the Year.” He competed against 150 other managers to win this award.

According to Dale’s boss, he has become the “go-to” Hess Manager in Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach. “He has a tremendous work ethic, both personally and professionally. He’s the ‘real deal’ and very deserving of this high recognition and award. Enough can’t be said about Dale. He is the voice of reason for many of his peers.”

Join SCACS in congratulating Dale.

Please consider submitting one of your company’s very best for consideration in 2015 Store Manager of the Year Award Program.

Awards Committee Chairperson, Margie Boyar and SCACS 2014 Store Manager of the Year, Kenneth “Dale” Feagin.

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Save The Date for 2015 SCACS 2015 Annual

ConventionJuly 18 - 22, 2015Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Go ahead and book your room now! SCACS Group Code: 071315SCASSOCCO

registration information to follow soon.

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for outstanding effort? The association would like to recognize a person or a company in 2015 in the following categories: Store Manager of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Retailer of the Year, or Independent Retailer of the Year. Nominations are easy and forms are available online to fill out or you can call the headquarters office at (803) 419-0804 and ask a staff mem-ber to send you the form(s).

Great employees can be tough to find and more difficult to keep. Recognize and motivate your most valuable asset and let SCACS do the rest. Allow your association to work for you by treating leaders and loyalty like royalty.

The deadline to submit a nomination is May 15, 2015, but you can submit anytime before that date so start thinking now.

2015 Awards Program

Date______________ Candidate’s Name_______________________________

Company Name _____________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________

City___________________________ State _______ Zip _____________

Number of years of service in the industry_________________

Number of years of service with company__________________

Nominated by__________________________ Title_____________________________________

E-mail__________________________________ Phone_______________________________________

Please rate the nominee on each of the following (5=best):

•SCACSInvolve

ment 123

45

•CommunityIn

volvement

12345

•FundraisingE

fforts 123

45

•Partnerswithr

etailerstogrow

andimprovebus

iness123

45

•Communicates

wellwithretail

ers 123

45

Additional comments

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________________________________________

ReturnformtoS

CACSbymailto

POBox11045,C

olumbia,SC292

11,orfaxto803

-252-7799,orem

ailto

hannah@associat

ionsplus.com.Q

uestions?CallSC

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804.

SCACS 2013 Supplier of the Year

RECOGNITION

one team • one goalSCACS 2013 Supplier of the Year

RECOGNITIONIndependent Retailer- is for the retailer that has 1 or 2 stores only.

Date______________ Candidate’s Name_______________________________

Company Name _____________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________

City___________________________ State _______ Zip _____________

Number of years of service in the industry_________________

Number of years of service with company__________________

Nominated by__________________________ Title_____________________________________

E-mail__________________________________ Phone_______________________________________

Please rate the nominee on each of the following (5=best): •SCACSInvolvement 12345 •CommunityInvolvement 12345 •FundraisingEfforts 12345 •UnderstandingandDedicationtoAdvancingtheIndustry 12345 •ResponsivenesstoConsumers 12345 Additional comments

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________________________________________

ReturnformtoSCACSbymailtoPOBox11045,Columbia,SC29211,orfaxto803-252-7799,oremailtohannah@associationsplus.org.Questions?CallSCACSat803-419-0804.

SCACS 2013 Independent Retailer of the Year

SCACS 2013 Independent Retailer of the Year

one team • one goal

RECOGNITIONDate______________ Candidate’s Name_______________________________

Company Name _____________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________

City___________________________ State _______ Zip _____________

Number of years of service in the industry_________________

Number of years of service with company__________________

Nominated by__________________________ Title_____________________________________

E-mail__________________________________ Phone_______________________________________

Please rate the nominee on each of the following (5=best):

•SCAC

SInvolveme

nt

12

345

•Com

munityInvo

lvement

12

345

•Fund

raisingEffort

s

12

345

•Ded

icationtoadv

ancingthein

dustry 12

345

•Und

erstandsthe

industry

12

345

Additional comments

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________________________________________

Returnform

toSCACSby

mailtoPOBo

x11045,Colu

mbia,SC292

11,orfaxto

803-252-7799

,oremailto

hannah@ass

ociationsplus

.org.Questio

ns?CallSCA

CSat803-419

-0804.

SCACS 2013 Retailer of the Year

SCACS 2013 Retailer of the Year

one team • one goalRECOGNITIONDate______________ Candidate’s Name_______________________________

Company Name _____________________________________ Store #__________

Address_______________________________________________________

City___________________________ State _______ Zip _____________

Number of years of service in the industry_________________

Number of years of service with company__________________

Nominated by__________________________ Title_____________________________________

E-mail__________________________________ Phone_______________________________________

Please rate the nominee on each of the following (5=best):

•Attitudewithcustomers 12345

•Leadershipskillsw/staff 12345

•Profit/Salesincrease 12345

•Storecleanliness 12345

•Laborturnover 12345

•Communityinvolvement 12345

•Shrinkcontrol 12345

Additional comments_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________________________________________

ReturnformtoSCACSbymailtoPOBox11045,Columbia,SC29211,orfaxto803-252-7799,oremailto

hannah@associationsplus.com.Questions?CallSCACSat803-419-0804.

SCACS 2013 Store Manager of the Year

SCACS 2013 Store Manager of the Yearone team • one goal

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The recent Planning Conference was held in Myrtle Beach and started with a social hour of networking down by the Intracoastal Waterway. Next, members went to Wonder-works where the majority participated in Laser Tag. With more than 100 hands-on exhibits that challenged the mind and sparked the imagination, Wonderworks was a fun social activity that set the stage for the following day of planning.

Bright and early the next morning, members listened to Joe Moglia, Head Football Coach of Coastal Carolina University, share his journey from coaching to being the CEO of TD Ameritrade back to coaching. Moglia shared his philosophy and strength of personal commitment that has helped build his success and the successes of others around him.

For several hours, the committees met and formulated their plans for 2015. They started with a team building exercise on “How to Build a Better Association.” This exercise that in-cluded logos, building blocks and creativity led to the focus of membership, membership, membership! Using this focus ,the committees determined their annual goals and objec-tives.

Stay tuned and mark your calendar now for many of the events that are already planned. (See a calendar on page 27.) Thanks to the following

for sponsoring the Planning Conference:

Cheerwine Federated Insurance

Johns Manville M.R. Williams, Inc.

MillerCoors Snyder’s-Lance Swedish Match

Planning Conference Wrap-up

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2015 Committee Chairs* and MembersAwards Committee - Chris Algeo, Margie Boyar*, Riley Cordell, Scooter O’Cain Antonio Robertson and Roger Staton

Communications Committee - Chris King*, Terry Sumner and Leanne Wilkerson

Convention Committee - Sean Bishop, Jim Jones, Steve Kirby, Larry Lytle*, Rich Mione*, Lisa Richmond, Scott Sienkiewicz, Steve Talamo and Lee Webster

Education Committee - Tomie Benton and Mike Fowler*

Golf Committee - Ryan Adams, Natoya Campbell, Dean Davis*, Chase Freeman, Jeff Ham*, Bubba Hopkins, Rick Kiger, Garrett Pepper, Gordon Phillips, Mike Proffitt, Greg Ries, Bill Slaughter and Brent Townsend

Legislative Committee - Robert Adams, Franky Campbell, Chris Corn, Kenneth Cosgrove, Lisa Hilbish, Hal Crenshaw, Bill Hooker*, David Jordan and Brad Poe*

Public Relations Committee - Dean Cline*, Dennis Lambert and Joe Williams

Strategic Planning Committee - Ken Cook, Kenney Denney, Jeff Driskill, Deb-bie Hayes, Mike Jones*, Tony McCollum*, Sheri Mehaffey, Tina Pollard, Larry Privette, and Deborah Thevaos.

If you would like to still serve on a committee or volunteer in other ways, please contact SCACS Head-quarters office at (803) 419-0804.

A big thank you to all who give their time

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Anderson Oil Company, Inc.B & B Convenience StoresBuck ManagementM.R. Williams, Inc.Meco Inc. of Augusta/GreenvilleR.L. Jordan Oil Company Southco Distributing CompanyThe City Marina Sea StoreWilcoHess, LLC

A big thank you to the following companies that donated toward the SCACS Scholarship Fund for 2015:

Thank you to the following contributors for your

2015 SCACS PAC donations!

Let us add your company. Call SCACS @ (803) 419-0804.

Anderson Oil Company, Inc.B & B Convenience Stores

Buck Management Meco Inc. of Augusta/GreenvilleSouthco Distributing Company

The City Marina Sea StoreWilcoHess, LLC

The scholarship plan is designed to assist convenience store employees and/or their families (store managers/store employees-relatives, husband, wife and children) and store vendors for their hourly office employees with financial help for post high-school institution of their choice. In 2014, 20 applicants received $594 each to assist in their school tuition. Your donations help make these checks greater. Thank you to all who donated!

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SC Leg is lat ive Updates 2014 SC General Election Recap

The GOP tide that swept across the country on election night lifted all Republican boats in the Palmetto State as Governor Haley and the statewide GOP ticket won by surprisingly large margins across the board. The aftermath of the election night results left the South Carolina Democratic party at a historic low point.

Governor Haley and Republicans Sweep Statewide Constitutional Offices

Governor Haley (R) received 56% of the vote as she cruised to re-election beating State Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw) in a rematch of their 2010 race. Back in 2010, Haley defeated Sheheen by 4.5%, however, in 2014 she won overwhelmingly besting him by 15%.Republicans continue their in-state dominance over Democrats maintaining control of all of the statewide constitutional offices. Republican incumbents held off challenges from their Democratic opponents in every race. Lt. Governor and Superintendent of Education were the only races without Republican incumbents. Former Attorney General Henry McMaster (R) beat a young and up-and-coming Democrat, State Representative Bakari Sellers (D-Bamberg), by a margin of 59% to 41% to become Lt. Governor, and Molly Spearman beat her Democratic challenger to become the state’s new Superintendent of Education.

Historic Win for Senator Scott, Graham Defeats Challengers

Senator Tim Scott (R) beat Democratic challenger Joyce Dickerson becoming the first African-American US Senator to be elected in South Carolina since reconstruction. After Jim DeMint left his Senate seat to take over the Heritage Foundation, Governor Haley chose then Congressman Scott to hold his seat until a special election could take place. Senator Scott will have another general election in 2016 after he completes the original 6 year term won by Senator DeMint in 2010.Senator Graham defeated State Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) and independent candidate, Thomas Ravenel, with 54% of the vote. Senator Graham was initially seen as vulnerable to a tea party challenge, but after winning the primary outright, the two term US Senator was projected to win a third term easily in a general election.

SC Congressional Delegation Remains the SameThe current make-up of the SC congressional delegation remains the same as Republicans maintain six of the seven U.S. congressional offices. Congressmen Joe Wilson, Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney, and Tom Rice faced little opposition from their Democratic challengers. Congressman Clyburn, the lone Democrat in the delegation easily cruised to re-election against his Republican opponent.

SC House Republicans Fend Off ChallengersRetirements from a few long time serving representatives opened up the opportunities for pickups for either side. The Republican majority was never realistically at stake, but Democrats were hopeful they could pick off a few seats held by the GOP. The only seats to change hands were Democrat Mary Tinkler, who won former Speaker Bobby Harrell’s Charleston seat, and Richard Yow (R-Chesterfield), who won retiring Democrat Ted Vick’s seat in the Pee Dee. The results of Tuesday night leave the GOP’s majority at a 78-46 advantage. State Senators were not on the ballot this year and the GOP majority in the upper chamber remains 28-18.

Below are the results of a few notable races: • Representative Craig Gagnon (R-Abbeville) defeated

Democrat challenger Tombo Hite by 10 points (55%-45%)

• Embattled Representative Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown) easily defeated former long-term Democrat Representative Vida Miller by 16 points (58%-42%)

• Conservative Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Rich-land) defeated Democrat challenger Joe McCulloch by 8 points (54%-46%)

• Richard Yow (R-Chesterfield) handily defeated Democrat Amy Brown by 17 points (58%-41%).

Lexington County approves Sunday alcohol sales referendum

Lexington County voters overwhelmingly approved Sunday alcohol sales referendum by a 2-1 margin on Tuesday night. SCACS was actively engaged in supporting this measure.

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SC Association of Convenience Stores2015 Legislative Breakfast

Followed by Retail DayThursday, April 23

8 - 10 amBlatt Building, Room 112

Columbia SC, 292011105 Pendleton Street

Corner of Assembly and Pendleton StreetsSCACS requests your attendance at its Legislative Breakfast.

Your staff will invite all legislators to this breakfast, but we ask that you personally reach out to YOUR legislator(s) and invite them as well.

Please let us know if you plan to attend the breakfast with your legislator(s) by completing the form below and faxing it to SCACS Headquarters at (803) 252-7799, mailing to PO Box 11405, Columbia, SC 29211, calling (803) 419-0804 or e-mailing hannah@scacs.org by April 3. FREE for SCACS Members

____ Yes. I plan to attend the 2015 SCACS Legislative Breakfast.

Name _________________________________________________

Company ______________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________________

E-mail ________________________________________________

______ I am a SCACS Member

Return to SCACS by April 3. Mail to PO Box 11405, Columbia, SC 29211, fax to (803) 252-7799,

call (803) 419-0804 or e-mail hannah@scacs.org.

Inv itat ion

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The Education Committee along with retailers, Bonnie Hart, Sheri Mehaffey and Janice Stuerke met to discuss SCACS education topics for 2015. The brainstorming session was led by Dr. Nancy Caldarola, NACS Education Director.

The session topics included the challenges of member’s internal training programs and concerns retailers face with their hourly employees, store managers and area managers.

The following are the notes for 2015 education programs.

Employees & Store Managers

• Customer service training with certificate of completion

• How to communicate with the younger generation

• The relationship between sales, labor and waste and the profitability of the store.

Operation Managers/Store Owners

The association will host a fall education program for operations managers and owners. o Topics such as lottery updates, PCI compliance, human resources, tax issues, DHEC

updates and food service.

o Use the members for a panel discussion.

o How to hire the right people.

A priority for the committee was determining the best ways to share the associations education and information. Keeping in mind most of our members are small, webinars and online video training were discussed as viable options.

Anytime retailers meet together learning takes place. The same is true with this brainstorming session.

“I found that we are all facing the same issues and feel we can create solutions together,” said Bonnie Hart.

“Being able to pick Nancy’s brain is always educational and she has so much knowledge to offer. This meeting helped me to determine how to indenify challenges and make an impact,” said Sheri Mehaffey.

Thank you again to Bonnie Hart, Sheri Mehaffey and Janice Stuerke, Dr. Nancy Caldarola, and Education Committee members Tomie Benton and Mike Fowler for coming out to the education brainstorming session. Look forward to seeing more details follow when the education programs will be scheduled throughout the year and uploaded on the website.

Education Brainstorm Session for 2015

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NEW 2015 Newsletter Advertising Rates

The 2015 SCACS newsletters are written quarterly and printed each time for our retailers. If you would like to showcase your company by submiting an ad, showcase a new product and/or a coupon from your company for retailers to see or use, the deadline to submit is below. If there is an article that you would like SCACS to run in a newsletter, please sumbit that article by the deadline dates.

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South Carolina

Association of

Convenience Stores

What’s Next?

Inside.....

• President’s Letter

• Planning Conference

• 2010 Award Winners

• NACS Financial

Reform

• NACS Q&A

• Convention Recap

• Social Media Article

• Scholarship Winners

3rd Quarter 2010

�

South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores

1st Quarter 2010

Make Your Time Count in 2010

What’s Inside...• Retail Day Set for Senate

• Golf Classic Starts SCACS’ Spring

• 300+ C-Stores Care & Compete

• Did You Know... Petro Show?

• Website Gets New Look

• Retailer Spotlight • Supplier Spotlight

�

South Carolina

Association of

Convenience Stores

2nd Quarter 2010

What’s Inside...

• Convention Promotion

• Spring Symposium

• Recap

Golf Classic

Legislative Day

Petro Show

• Communciations . . . Booking it!

• Retailer Spotlight

• Supplier Spotlight

Spring Symposium Details

It’s The Law

SC hosts National Town Hall

Spotlight

Petro Show Success

Convention Details

Guess who we saw?

New Members

Golf Classic Has Sprung

A Worthy Goal Almost

Reached

34567811

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In This Edition:

�

South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores

3rd Quarter 2010

What’s Next?Inside.....• President’s Letter

• Planning Conference• 2010 Award Winners• NACS Financial Reform• NACS Q&A• Convention Recap

• Social Media Article• Scholarship Winners

Full Page Ads = $500 eachHalf Page Ads = $250 each

2015 Bundling Packages Options:4 Full Page Ads = $1,500*4 Half Page Ads = $750*

*Web Ad included with Bundling Packages(You can sumbit all ads & company logo at once)

D e a d l i n e f o r A d sN o v e m b e r 1 5J a n u a r y 1 5

A p r i l 1 5J u l y 3 0

******************************************************************************************Full page advertisements should be 7.3125”w X 9.75”h, no bleeds.

Half page advertisements should be 7.3125”w X 4.75”h. PDF format is preferred. A web advertisement is composed of your company’s logo only. Logo file needs to jpeg.

Please e-mail your advertisement to: Hannah@scacs.org

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The SCACS Spring Golf Classic is heading back to Cobblestone Park Golf Course after another great year. Again this year we are “going green” in that no-paper will be printed or mailed regarding the tournament. All registra-tion materials will be sent out electronically. Register today. Supplier members: Don’t forget about taking advantage of the BRING A RETAILER FOR FREE! If you include at least one retailer on your team, that one retailer is free of charge (other than the PAC pack).

Prizes will be given to the first place team, the second place team, the third place team, the longest drive and the closest to the pin. Entry into the golf tournament will also give you entry into our Putting Contest.

Registration begins at 8 am and Shotgun start at 10 am.

Want to be a 2015 Hole Sponsor? Let us know if you want to sign up!

SCACS 2015 Spring Golf Classic Theme - PAR IS YOUR FRIEND!

Thank you again to last year’s Title Sponsors! Breakfast Sponsor - Grand Strand Sandwich Co., Inc.

Lunch Sponsor - Anheuser-Busch, Inc.Drink Sponsor - MillerCoors

Putting Sponsor - Johns Manville Beverage Sponsor - Pepsi Beverages Company

Hole-in-One Sponsor - Jim Hudson Ford Range Sponsor - ISS Research (Oh Yeah)

Gift Sponsor-Federated InsuranceThank you again to our 2014 Hole Sponsors! AIR-Serv Group, Blue Bell Creameries, Blythewood Oil Company, Carolina Distributors, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Con-solidated, Eagle Transport Corp., Frito-Lay, Inc, Geiger O’Cain Advertising, Golden Flake Snack Foods, H.T. Hackney, J.T. Davenport & Sons, a Division of Core-Mark Intl., M.R. Williams, Inc., PET Diary, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., Royal Cup Coffee, S&D Coffee & Tea, Inc., Scandinavia Tobacco Group, Spartan Roofing Co, Sunny Delight Beverages, Swedish Match, Valero, WilcoHess and Xyience.

SCACS SPRING

GOLFCLASSIC 2015

Cobblestone Park Golf Course • Wednesday, April 22 SCAC

SContact SCACS Headquarters at

(803) 419-0804 or email hannah@scacs.org.

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2015 We Card Materials AvailableWe Card is an organization supported across the country, and the South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores (SCACS) encourages all South Carolina retailers to continue

in their efforts to successfully identify and prevent age-restricted product sales to minors.

The legal requirements of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations governing certain tobacco

products, combined with state level restrictions and the rising focus on e-cigarettes, pushes responsible retailing of

age-restricted products to a new level.

The national retailer violation rate with youth access to tobacco laws is 9.1 percent — significantly below the

target percent rate. Even so, preventing age-restricted product sales to minors continues to be a top retail

industry priority. Furthermore, South Carolina has a violation rate of 9.5 percent that is just above the national average according to the FFY 2012 Synar Report issued by

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Trained retail employees are confident and prepared to identify and deny underage attempts to purchase tobacco, e-cigarettes or other age-restricted products. We Card Awareness helps reinforce retailers’ daily

efforts and highlights the services and tools We Card avails to help them complete it,” said We Card president Doug Anderson.

FDA requirements of retailers demand the “carding” of every under 27-year old customer for cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco or roll-your-own tobacco. Additional products, such as cigars and e-cigarettes may be added to this requirement since FDA proposed adding them to the list of restricted

products earlier this year. Since 2010 FDA has completed more than 320,000 retail compliance checks to see if retailers’ are asking for ID of customers under 27 years old and rejecting those underage purchase attempts.

South Carolina retailers have experienced over 14,000 checks since FDA starting doing compliance checks, and that number will only increase.

Furthermore, e-cigarettes are now considered age-restricted products in nearly 40 states so an increased focus on responsible retailing and knowing which products to “card” and deny sales to minors is particularly important for the retail industry. In 2013, South Carolina passed a law making it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to

persons under the age of 18.

To help retailers, We Card launches the availability of We Card’s 2015 materials including a range of new age-of-purchase calendars and tools. From Labor Day to New Year’s Eve, it is We Card’s busiest time of the year as

retailers order the coming year’s Age-of-Purchase Calendar – a daily reminder age-calculation tool -- and a slew of other point-of-sale tools and signage to equip their stores.

We Card also offers award-winning training courses offered online through We Card’s eLearning Center at www.wecard.org or through licensing to retailers and other organizations.

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“I attended NACS Government Relations Conference for the first time in 2014. NACS did a great job educating us on the topics and set the schedule for us. We simply needed to be there to talk to ourlegislators. I left Washington feeling that my attendance has made a difference in all of our stores.”

– Bob Hohn, President at Paxson Oil Company

Protecting Your Business Is Easier When We Influence Washington Together.

Congress’s actions have real impacts on your stores. Every day, legislators make decisions that can help you or hurt you. They want to hear from people who live and work in their states and congressional districts—so that they can do their jobs better for those who elected them.

Join our industry on March 2-4, 2015 to help influence Washington.

Get started at: nacsonline.com/GRConference

The NACS Government Relations Conference makes it easy to learn about current issues and, along with your industry peers, speak directly with lawmakers and their staff members to influence critical decisions that affect you. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.

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J a n u a r y28 Committee Meetings28 Board Meeting

M a r c h4-5 Petro Show5 Breakfast Social at Petro Show18 JT Davenport Food Show27 JL Gaddy Food Show

A p r i l10 HT Hackney Golf Tournament11-12 HT Hackney Food Show14-15 Southco Food Show22 SCACS Spring Golf Classic23 Retail Day/Legislative Breakfast23 Committee Meetings23 Board Meeting

M a yTBD Spring Networking Event12-13 MR Williams Food Show15 Scholarship & Award Deadline

J u n eTBD Store Manager of the Year Presentation

J u l y18 Board Meeting18-22 Annual Convention

S e p t e m b e r14-15 Planning Conference15 Board Meeting

O c t o b e r11-14 NACS Show28 Fall Education Program

SCACS Calendar

2015

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South Carolina Association of Convenience StoresPost Office Box 11405Columbia, SC 29211www.scacs.org

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