'Convenience' is supposed to be your edge. But if customers can’t see your store online, can’t check what’s in stock, or can’t order it quickly, you’re inconvenient.
The convenience gap that’s costing you customers
Your stores are stocked. Your locations are strong. But your customers? They’re going elsewhere. Not because of price or product, but because you’re not showing up where they’re looking: online.
Today’s shoppers start with a search or open a delivery app. You're already losing out if your store isn’t there, with accurate stock and reliable listings. And those same shoppers will continue heading to the Tesco or Sainsbury’s that is visible, and making it easy to shop with them.
This is the digital convenience gap, and it’s quietly costing forecourt and convenience retailers thousands every week.
Let’s break down how today’s shoppers find stores, and how the most forward-thinking retailers are closing the gap by making their shelves part of the digital journey.
Shoppers have changed
Before they set foot in your store, today’s shoppers have often already made decisions, guided by search results, stock visibility, and delivery options online.
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59% of UK consumers now do some grocery shopping online (Mintel)
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Nearly half of all Google searches have local intent (Google)
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76% of people who search for something nearby visit within a day (Google)
But most convenience stores still treat digital as a bolt-on, not a core part of how shoppers discover them.
That’s the gap - between what shoppers expect and what most retailers deliver.
Gap #1: You’re not showing up when people search nearby
When someone searches “open grocery store near me” or “energy drinks nearby,” they’re not researching; they’re ready to act. These are high-intent moments, and they’re happening thousands of times a day in your postcode.
But here’s the problem: most forecourt and convenience stores don’t show up.
Why? Because Google can’t see them. And if Google can’t see your store, neither can your customers.
Common set-ups:
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Your Google Business Profile isn’t claimed or up to date
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Your in-store stock isn’t connected to their online profiles
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You're missing features like See What’s in Store (see image right) or Local Inventory Ads
Highway Stops solved this by connecting their live in-store stock with Google. The result? 5x more shoppers finding them online, and a #1 Google local search ranking. Read the full case study here.
"The number of local shoppers discovering our sites online has soared, and today we’re ranking number one on Google in local search."
- Shilan Raja, Director, Highway Stops Retail Ltd
Gap #2: Last-mile delivery menus that don’t deliver
Delivery platforms like Uber Eats and Just Eat are vital, but with shoppers expecting speed and certainty, most retailers are struggling to meet these expectations. Convenience retailers are fighting easily fixable issues daily, such as:
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Delivery menus that are out of date and don’t match the in-store offering
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Failed orders due to displaying out-of-stock products
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Hours lost manually updating pricing and availability across multiple platforms
These aren’t just frustrating operational issues, they’re costing £1,000s in lost sales each week.
Pricewatch Group automated this entire process using live in-store inventory data. The result?
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913% sales growth across delivery platforms
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59 hours per month saved in menu management
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37% reduction in failed orders weekly
“NearSt has made it achievable for us to run a cost-effective last mile operation that’s saving us a huge amount of time and money.”
- Claire Goddard, Marketing Manager, Pricewatch Group
Pricewatch Group turned last-mile delivery from a headache into a high-performing sales channel. Read the full case study here.
The Fix: To win locally, start with what you stock
So what are the retailers getting it right doing differently? It starts with what’s on the shelf and how it shows up online.
Retailers chasing performance often start with in-store offers, promotions and other marketing tactics. But the smarter ones start with structured, real-time in-store inventory data. That’s the foundation for:
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Showing up in Google results
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Powering success on last-mile delivery platforms
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Running effective local ads
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Minimising staff workload
That’s how local players beat household chains, by being the most connected, not the biggest.
You’re not just competing on price or location anymore
Today’s shoppers are making decisions before they’ve even left the house, office or park. They’re searching online for what they need, comparing results in seconds, and choosing the store that shows up, not necessarily the closest, the cheapest, or even the best stocked.
That means you’re now competing on something much more dynamic:
- Visibility - are you showing up in search when and where it matters?
- Accuracy - can shoppers trust what they see matches what’s in-store?
- Convenience - can they quickly check stock or order what they need?
If your store isn’t discoverable and easy to buy from online, you’re losing customers, often without ever knowing it.
The good news? You don’t need a new store, a new website, or a new marketing strategy. You just need to connect your store and stock to where customers already are, online, and ready to buy.
Who is NearSt?
NearSt helps convenience and forecourt retailers connect their in-store products to platforms like Google, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Making it easier for shoppers to find, order, and visit your stores.
We handle everything: real-time inventory feeds, platform integrations, and the tools that keep you visible, accurate, and competitive, whether customers are searching nearby or browsing delivery apps.
