The C in this case stands for convenience store (C-Store), and the D stands for department store (D-Store) — both critical outlets in the MULO (multi-location) retail ecosystem.

Brick-and-mortar locations in many categories are still alive and well despite consumers’ penchant for online shopping.

Yet, some types of MULO brands are performing much better than others. They all face labor and inventory issues and must adapt their operations to prevent theft and incorporate new technologies. Businesses with large footprints also face real estate and maintenance expenses.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a comprehensive article titled “Left Behind in the Retail Real-Estate Comeback: Department Stores.” In summary, the thesis is that discount and big box stores (like Target and Walmart) have fundamentally impacted consumer shopping behavior.

Pickleball courts and gyms, family entertainment centers, and other large-footprint brands are replacing anchor stores in malls.

One could argue that the death of the department store also resulted from the failure of operators to see that consumers are not only looking for bargains and convenience, but they are also looking for immersive and entertaining “experiences.”

Speaking of convenience, the C-store (or convenience store) is a category that is alive, well, expanding, and innovating.

This week, C-Store Dive announced that several convenience brands are expanding their offerings:

• Travel centers are being installed in many C-store locations, like QuikTrip, Wawa, and RaceTrac.
• Sheetz and 7-Eleven are both expanding services they offer to truckers, including diesel fuel, truck parking, overnight truck parking, and truck scales. They are taking the concept of the “truck stop” to a whole new level — identifying and capitalizing on a potentially lucrative market.

So, what can we learn from C and D?

1. Always be researching new marketing opportunities and innovating.
2. Be open to creative and game-changing ideas in your sector. If you see results heading toward a BUST, move quickly and confidently to stop the bleeding.
3. Entertain ideas and concepts from other types of MULO businesses and learn from their moves.

We won’t take you through the entire alphabet of innovation and profitability. (You’ll have to develop F through Z on your own.)

But we will add an S to the MULO alphabet. Street Fight LIVE Summit comes to Chicago on November 7th. We have been listening to retail, restaurant, and service brands over the past couple of years and are curated gathering that will help you better understand the consumer, technology, and agency trends that will make the difference between BOOMs and BUSTs.

Please join us this fall!