VIDEO: BellStores Pilots GasBuddy Coupon Portal

MASSILLON, Ohio — BellStores, owned and operated by Campbell Oil Co., is piloting OpenStore by GasBuddy's new vendor-sponsored Coupon Portal technology, through which retailers can access consumer packaged goods (CPG) sponsored coupons and leverage their existing CPG relationships, while manufacturers can drive sales for their products.

“The benefits of digital couponing are clear, but how and where to get coupons has always been a challenge for retailers and CPGs in the convenience store space,” said Tony Chidiac, vice president of OpenStore. “The Coupon Portal addresses all hurdles of digital couponing, while also providing a distribution channel for CPGs that includes millions of end-consumers.”

BellStores launched a mobile app and website with OpenStore in 2014, after it recognized the need to communicate with customers beyond the point-of-sale. Now, BellStores has more than 600 daily app users and has achieved record download rates.

The chain actively uses OpenStore to provide customers with deals, contests and games. Based on its success using OpenStore to increase customers’ basket size, OpenStore selected BellStores to pilot the Coupon Portal.

“We’re seeing increased foot traffic and they’re normally not just picking up a free product, they’re putting other items in their baskets as well,” reported Jake Patton, marketing specialist for Campbell Oil. He added that BellStores’ relationships with key vendors have also been strengthened by the sponsored coupons.  

“Leveraging our vast network of GasBuddy and OpenStore users to bring CPGs sponsored coupons to our retailer partners has been a no-brainer for us,” added Chidiac.

To learn more about BellStores’ experience with OpenStore and the Coupon Portal, click here.

Massillon, Ohio-based BellStores operates 54 convenience stores and 21 foodservice stores in 13 counties. 

OpenStore is a solution-based technology that increases customer loyalty by providing two-way communication between convenience store owners and customers using web technologies and custom-branded mobile applications. The OpenStore dashboard allows the user to collect customer feedback, manage social media, and deliver mobile coupons and text-message campaigns all from one location.