Monthly Archives: February 2018

There are a number of flammable gas and petroleum based fuels in a gas station. Although we only stop at a gas station for a few minutes, we should be careful when we are refueling our tanks.

Disaster can happen within seconds and you may never know what went wrong.

Here are the things that you should always avoid doing at a gas station:

Not turning off the engine

The engine should never be ignited while refueling, as it can cause a fire. All ignitions should be off, including cooking units, pilot lights and tanker heater.

Light a cigarette

Never smoke at a gas station or light a match. Keep your lighters safely tucked in your pocket. There are fuel vapors in the air, and even a little spark from your lighter can cause a fire.

Reenter your car while refueling

Reentering your car while refueling can build static energy, especially in cold and dry weather. Any spark from static energy, combined with gasoline fume, can cause a mini explosion.

If you really must get back in your car, make sure to discharge all the static energy by touching something metal.

Use your cell phone

Although there is no evidence to support the possibility of cell phone sparks being the culprit behind fires in gas stations, it is still safe not to use them.

There is lots of traffic in the gas station with cars standing bumper to bumper, so the best thing to do is avoid using cell phones.

Breathe vapors

If you feel that that the odor of fuel is too strong, this means that there are a lot of vapors in the air. You shouldn’t breathe in these vapors for more than a few seconds as it can cause some serious respiratory problems.

Cover your mouth and nose while filling or move to an area with fresh air. Try to go to gas stations that have wide open spaces.

Overfill the tank

Overfilling the tank can cause spillage of oil on the ground, which can be dangerous for you and others. Most gas pumps stop automatically when the tank is full.

Let your children out

Your children may be really fascinated about cars and gadgets, or could be curious to learn how a gas pump works. But you should never let your children out during refueling.

Firstly, their lungs are more vulnerable to gas fumes. Secondly, any splash from the nozzle will happen right at their face level, which is even more dangerous.

Are you a gas station owner? Post these safety guidelines at your gas station!

We are the one of the leading the fuel station and pumps equipment suppliers in the country and provide a complete range of products for setting up a gas station and making necessary upgrades. Have a look at our product range from some of the best brands in the business.

Proper lighting in a gas station is necessary for the safety of customers and staff. However, proper lighting is also imperative for gas stations in order to create an attractive retail environment so that more and more customers are drawn towards it.

Gas stations are something that can be found in almost every end of a busy street. With such cut-throat competition, gas stations can’t ignore the importance of investing in lighting to boost their business.

Exterior lighting

Customers aren’t likely to pull over to a gas station that is dimly lit for several reasons:

• There is an increased risk of accident or injury because of a gas leak or spill
• There could be a security risk, as mugging is common in poorly lit places
• They will face difficulty in refueling their vehicle and inspecting it

Adequate exterior lighting with flood lights, and other illumination solutions is imperative for any gas station during the night, in order to make customers feel secure. Almost all motorist look at the forecourt before entering, and if the station isn’t adequately lit, they are likely to turn back and look for another.

Interior lighting

Interior lighting is more of a marketing tactic in order to increase sales. Through indoor lighting, gas stations are able to create an aesthetically appealing retail environment for their customers. This is particularly important if there are several gas stations nearby.

Interior lighting is particularly important for the convenience stores. Attractive product displays with bright interiors can entice motorists to go inside the convenience store and shop.

However, proper lighting isn’t enough to boost sales. If you’re investing in lighting, so is every other gas station. Read on to find out some more tactics that can complement your attractive lighting display.

Advertising

You shouldn’t be afraid to sell your gas station customer service and products to the customers. Putting up signs of offers and promotions can really be the differentiating factor that your gas station needs.

Window displays on the convenience stores is also a good idea to promote the products being sold inside the convenience store.

Customer service

Customers aren’t likely to return to a gas station which provided very poor customer service the last time they visited.

Customers should be cared for when they visit your gas station, and if they feel valued they are likely to come back. A great way to improve customer satisfaction is to have customer feedback system in place, which will allow you to get feedback directly from the customers, while also letting them feel heard.

For all kinds of upgrades and equipment for your gas station, you can visit our website or contact us through 1-800-238-1225. We supply petroleum equipment and gas station pump parts throughout the States at very reasonable prices.

Regular inspections are necessary in gas stations to provide both the stakeholder and customers a safer environment to do business. Individual situations may vary, but safety inspection for a gas station will generally include the following things:

Emergency Procedures

There should be emergency procedures for fire, spillage, accidents an equipment failure. These emergency procedures should be reviewed every month and updated as per necessity.

All the employees must be trained and aware of these procedures so that they can be carried out in a timely manner.

Emergency Numbers

A list of emergency numbers that includes, fire brigade, ambulance and the police, should be prominently displayed at the central console, near the phone.

Emergency Stop

There must be a main emergency stop that cuts of power to all dispensing units. This emergency stops should be in an accessible place and must not be blocked with racks or shelves.

The emergency stop must be labeled prominently and should be tested once every month to make sure that it is functioning properly.

Safety Equipment

The most important safety equipment in natural gas stations is fire extinguishers.

There must be at least two-powder type fire extinguishers in the gas stations. The minimum rating of the fire extinguishers should be 2A 60B(E). The fire extinguishers should be adequately labeled and should be placed in a place from which they can be accessed without any danger in case of emergency. They need to be serviced every 6 months so that they remain effective.

Other safety equipment includes a spill kit. Oil spills are dangerous as a fire can spark in no time. They must be dealt with immediately, which is why spill kits are very important in a gas station for safety.

A first aid safety kit should be present at the convenience store and the office. Read more about service station safety tips.

Site plan and Risk assessment

A site plan and risk assessment should be prepared and maintained regularly. This will include the inventory of the goods on the site, especially the dangerous goods, such as combustible gas and flammable liquids.

A risk assessment ensures that the property owner is aware of all the potential dangers that are present on the site and all the steps are being taken to mitigate those risks.

These are all DIY inspection and safety tips that can be done by the station owners themselves. But what about the safety of the fuel tanks and gas pumps? For that, a professional inspection of the gas station must be conducted regularly, so that any potential dangers can be taken care of beforehand.

Call us today for a professional inspection of your gas station at 1-800-238-1225. We also provide on-site repairs for all gas station equipment, so that any problem is resolved within no time.

There are three things that make a gas station successful: location, location and location.

Whether you are planning to build a new gas station or acquiring an already running one, the location is something that must play the most important part in your decision making.

However, choosing the right location is not as easy as it seems. There are several factors that need to be considered and a lot research needed; after all, gas station is a significant investment.

Here are some important considerations to have in mind:

Level of competition

Assessing the level of competition can be quite tricky. While investing in an area where there is low competition and adequate demand is a good strategy, it does not mean potential success. Investing in a busy road of New York, San Francisco or Boston, with cut-throat competition, will prove to be a better strategy than an area with low competition.

This is because no one likes to wait for getting gas, especially on a busy day. So as far as the customers go, the more gas stations there are in the area, the better; as waiting in a line is a nuisance. So in a tough completion like this, the winner is the one who can drive out traffic as quickly as possible.

Accessibility

The gas station should be easily accessible. This means that cars should be able to easily enter and exit the gas station. Drivers will avoid turning into a gas station which makes it a hassle to work around.

Make sure that the location is easily accessible to heavy traffic and goes with flow. The side of the road can also make a huge difference. One side may have more traffic than the other, especially during rush hours.

Future Projects

Construction of overhead bridges or buildings could hamper the accessibility of the gas stations in the future. This is why proper research is important before making an investment. A steady stream of traffic could reduce to a trickle if a project is started anywhere near your gas station.

History of the site

It is very important to know and understand the property laws that are prevalent in the State. Also learn about the history of the site to see if there have been any legal complications pertaining to this site in the past. You will also need to learn about any safety hazard that is present in the area, such as a gas leak.

The last thing you want is the government to shut down your station due to safety hazards or a dispute.

If you are looking for supplies for your new gas station, then you don’t need to look further than John W. Kennedy Company. We provide a whole range of gas station equipment, like gas pumps, gas station pump parts, petroleum equipment and fuel management equipment, with over 70 brands in our catalogue. Visit our website for more details or contact us by dialing 1-800-238-1225.

You, as a gas station manager, may be pressed to bring in more customers.

Reduced pricing is one way, but fuel sales already have very low margins. Engaging in a price war with other nearby gas stations is only a race down to the bottom, where everybody is a loser.

However, there are other ways to attract new customer and make current customers return.

Here are four ways you can drive customers to your gas station:

Differentiate

‘Differentiate or Die’ goes a very old branding concept. You want more customers in your gas station, but so does everyone else. What are you doing differently?

Find a niche that no other gas station nearby is aware of, which might attract traffic to your gas station. If you are located near a stadium, stock your convenience store with fan merchandise and jersey’s. If you’re station is located near a river where people go for boating and fishing, have baits and flies stocked in your stock.

Find anything that goes well with your area and makes your gas station stand out from the crowd.

Improve Appearance

First impressions are vital when attracting customers. Drivers usually look at the forecourt when entering, even if they do not need gas. Therefore, the gas pumps, fuel oil nozzles, buttons and displays should be clean and in tip-top condition.

Needless to say, bathrooms should be spotless. Multiple bathroom cleanings should be scheduled each day.

Advertisements

No advertising is like waiting for the customer to come to you, rather than reaching out to them. You shouldn’t be afraid to sell your products and brand if you want more traffic.

Put up signs to display your prices and discounts that you’re offering. Have window signs to promote products that are being sold in the convenience store.

Customer Service

It doesn’t matter how good your gas station is and how attractive deals you offer on your convenience store, customers will never return if the customer service is bad.

A top business guru in the world, Tom Peters, calls excellent customer service as the biggest secret of business success. Nothing will make customers return to your gas station like good customer service.

Customers must feel valued and cared for when they enter your gas station and your employees should be courteous to them as well. Establish a customer satisfaction feedback system, so that you can also receive customer feedback and recommendations directly from the customers on how to improve your service.

If you need any repairs or upgrades in your gas stations, contact us at 1-800-238-1225 or visit our website. We are a leading gas station parts supplier in the US, and cater to every need of gas stations and convenience stores.