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CSP's 2021 Outlook Survey

CSP needs your help to better understand how convenience-store retailers feel about the future of the industry. To this end, we ask that you please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your responses will remain confidential and be combined with other responses to report industry averages.

The results of this study will be published in the November issue of CSP magazine. 
Business Conditions
1.How would you describe current business conditions?
2.How do you anticipate your total 2020 sales will compare to 2019 (including fuel and in-store)?
3.What do you expect will happen to business conditions in 2021?
4.What are the top three biggest business challenges you face today? (Select three)
5.The following items will have [positive/negative/no] effect on my business in 2021.
Positive
No effect
Negative
COVID-19 safety protocols
Decreased foot traffic
Continued industry consolidation
Labor market
Tobacco/vape regulatory issues
New and/or higher taxes
EMV compliance at fuel pumps
Online retail
On-demand delivery services
6.What amenities do you plan to offer in 2021?
COVID-19 Pandemic
7.Has the COVID-19 pandemic made you concerned about the financial stability of your business?
8.Do you require customers to wear masks in your store(s)?
9.Have you installed plexiglass barriers at checkout in your store(s)?
10.Thinking back on when the pandemic first hit your area, did you close the following self-service options? (Check all that apply.)
11.How do you expect the COVID-19 pandemic to affect your sales and traffic in 2021?
Labor
12.Have you struggled to hire employees in 2020?
13.Have you struggled to retain staff in 2020?
14.Have you held hiring events to increase traction in your labor pool?
15.Do you believe the increased unemployment benefits from the CARES Act have contributed to the c-store industry's hiring struggles in 2020?
16.How do you expect your labor pool and hiring issues to unfold in 2021?
Fuel & Tobacco
17.Is your behind-the-counter category threatened by current measures to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products?
18.What are your long-term expectations (10+ years out) for fuel demand?
19.What do you think will have the greatest (positive or negative) effect on future fuel demand?
20.What changes do you plan to make to your fuel offering in 2021? (Choose all that apply.)
21.What are your plans for upgrading your pumps to EMV chip-card compliance by the April 2021 deadline?
22.If you have upgraded to EMV compliance or plan to, what is the main reason?
23.If you do NOT plan to upgrade by the deadline, what is the main reason?
24.Thank you for participating in our survey!

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