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December 17, 2010 Last week I included some links in my message regarding profit margins and one of them didn’t work properly. Ok…so I am not a computer genius……BUT I still would like you to view them because they ring true. I have wrestled with the issue of price cutting and low profit margins since the very first day I owned my first Exxon Station in 1978. Little has changed. The marketplace landscape is very different, but ultimately competition rules still apply and force retail margins to be razor thin. Anyway here are the links once more. Take 2 minutes to click on them and see how stupid we can be. These YouTube productions were made by an NJGCA member out of frustration. I want you all to see them. The first one is titled Stupid, and this is the link that did not work in last week’s Road Warrior. Click HERE
The second link did work last week, but here it is again. Click HERE Let’s get down to some business. If you own a convenience store I need your help. I have written several times in the past few weeks of my effort to fight off a new law that would allow the State of New Jersey to sell Lottery over the internet. Do I really have to rehash how this will hurt every convenience store that depends on lottery sales to draw customers inside? I am sure you should be fighting mad and extremely worried. So if you are fighting mad and extremely worried, then you should be highly motivated to help me to help you! I must provide at least a minimum level of proof that you will lose sales of coffee and sandwiches etc, if you lose the traffic in your stores that is created when customers enter to purchase lottery. A simple log that can be placed on a clip board next to your lottery machine and cash register will be helpful to substantiate my claims. I have placed on our web site a form that I am asking ALL NJGCA MEMBERS WHO OPERATE CONVENIENCE STORES to print and complete daily for a two week period. Click HERE and you will be able to access the form and print it out. I know this is HOLIDAY time, but I have a meeting scheduled with the sponsor of this legislation on January 4th, and I would like to have at least a preliminary report to hand Assemblywoman Quijano. This is not a difficult request. I NEED this information or I will be unable to fight for you. Last week I reported that the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee voted 3-2 to release A-2676 and send it to be voted up or down by the full NJ General Assembly. The committee specifically cited that there is no proof to my claims that should the State of New Jersey sell lottery over the internet, that you will lose sales of other items in your stores. This despite the fact that there were about 60 owners of convenience stores that packed the room; 37 of who signed up to testify in opposition to A-2676. I know there were 37 that signed up to testify because Chairman Burzichelli took the time to count the slips that were submitted by those in the room wishing to be heard. He acknowledged to me as I sat in front of the committee that we had a strong presence. Much of our strong presence must be properly attributed to the cooperation that we are getting from the Asian American Retailers Association, and the NJ Food Council. I have asked both of these organizations and several groups of Exxon Dealers to also have their folks with convenience stores keep these logs. Print the form and mark the form appropriately every time a customer purchases lottery. Then mail all of your forms back to me at NJGCA Headquarters: 66 Morris Ave, Springfield, NJ 07081. Of course don’t hesitate to call me or email if you need further instructions. New Jersey is desperate to find ways of increasing revenues without raising taxes. NJ officials think that they can increase revenues to the state by a few hundred million dollars if they permit lottery purchases over the internet. New Jersey SHOUL NOT BE COMPETING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FOR THE SAME CUSTOMERS!
All signs point to a very busy year for us in 2011. I expect that we will be involved in further discussions regarding Motor Vehicle Inspections, as I am determined to have the state turn the program over in its entirety to private shops and eliminate Parsons from the picture. I also expect that the Below Cost Selling and Promotion proposals will begin moving again in January.
Thanks for reading. See you next week!
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**To Register call Debbie Hill 973-376-0066 x 203 or debbie@njgca.org** POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members. We defeated BELOW COST SELLING We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law! We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes ...and MUCH MORE!! In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature! If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO: I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.
We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.
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