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July 24, 2024 - Philadelphia, PA – Lula, Inc. announced today the launch of Lula Commerce, the only all-in-one online ordering and managed services solution that empowers enterprise retailers to build and grow world-class digital commerce experiences without the ongoing operational burden or need for specialized in-house expertise. Lula Commerce combines AI and verticalized industry expertise to handle tasks ordinarily managed by a retailer’s internal marketing, operations, data science, accounting, and category-management teams On average, Lula’s managed services can help offset 3.7 FTE resources on an annualized basis, allowing in-house talent to focus on strategic growth initiatives.
“We built Lula to serve all retailers, regardless of size, and to democratize access to world-class digital experiences. Over the past few years, we've observed larger mid-market and enterprise brands struggling to launch digital experiences, as most software-only solutions lack adequate guidance and a comprehensive multi-year roadmap for retailers to follow,” says Co-founder and CEO Adit Gupta. “Lula Commerce represents a significant leap forward, offering new enterprise features and managed services for brands seeking a comprehensive digital growth strategy while minimizing the need for internal resources.”
Consumer trends indicate that 78.7% of shoppers reported buying groceries online after the COVID-19 outbreak, a 39% increase from pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the State of Convenience Report by Incisiv revealed that 61% of executives consider it crucial for convenience stores to expand their market share on third-party platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, up from 43% in 2022. Additionally, in July 2024, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) announced that Sheetz will start selling beer at over 250 locations to boost digital sales. Enterprise brands are noticing incremental sales uplifts and are meticulously refining their digital strategies.
Convenience retailers are navigating a complex market characterized by tight margins, flat or declining in-store revenues, and an increasing need for seamless digital integration. Recently, higher gas prices have temporarily bolstered the financial performance of convenience stores. However, experts predict this boost will dissipate as the consumer price index for gasoline and other goods continues to decline, further squeezing c-store profitability.
The key to future success lies in three crucial pillars: specialty merchandising, hot foods, and personalization. Focusing on these areas will help build stronger, more resilient convenience brands, ensuring they can thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Looking out at the next decade, convenience stores will become the hub for: Specialty food-service, with increased quality and assortment, unique CPG offerings (with continued innovation in both snacks and beverages), and enhanced & hyper-personalized visitor experiences. To meet the needs of this evolving market, retailers must swiftly build robust digital infrastructure to capitalize on future shopping opportunities. Equally important is the need to hire the appropriate talent for a multi-year digital transformation, encompassing projects such as loyalty programs, digital ordering, and retail media.
While many software providers address current gaps, Lula distinguishes itself as a long-term growth partner and advisor, aligning closely with brands on operational strategy. As retailers develop their digital experiences, it is crucial to establish a separate "digital P&L" to evaluate success. Lula adds value to teams by offloading substantial workloads through its managed services, effectively augmenting several full-time employees at a fraction of the cost.
Par Mar Oil Company, ranked in the top 40 largest convenience chains in the US, has offered delivery since March 2023. John Brammer, the director of marketing, feels it’s an important service to provide to their customers.
To stand out in today's retail market, providing exceptional digital experiences is crucial. Lula's Core Commerce Platform and product suite are built around the innovative 6C’s framework.
This comprehensive framework ensures retailers can stay competitive in the digital age, providing exceptional experiences and operational efficiency. In an episode of At Your Convenience, Kristin Sword, Manager of Loyalty & E-commerce, said, "This is not uncommon across the c-store space; teams are very lean and take on many responsibilities. When we're building roadmaps, we want to be flexible and adaptable, and find partners who can adapt and augment staffing for us." Jacksons Food Stores is No. 26 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains.
Lula advises multi-location and enterprise brands evaluating digital ordering to first determine if a digital experience is suitable for them. Lula’s managed services extend well beyond basic partnership, starting with a comprehensive location analysis to assess the viability of digital ordering. This process helps identify the opportunity size and shapes the strategy for the overall digital engagement experience a retailer aims to implement.
“The reality is that not every location is suitable for online ordering. We have developed a robust process to identify which locations are a good fit, using both proprietary and publicly accessible geographic, sales, and store data. Our goal is to provide a consultative experience, guiding our partners in determining which locations have the best opportunity to succeed online,” said Graham McAden, Head of Account Management & Customer Success at Lula Commerce.
Lula's Core Commerce Platform has expanded its offerings beyond third-party marketplace integrations and managed services. The company plans to unveil new products later in 2024, including Lula Direct, an enterprise-grade first-party ordering engine, and a full-conversational AI agent designed to support ordering and call center functions for retailers.
Lula’s Core Commerce product suite is empowering the digital engagements of leading mid-market and enterprise brands, including Jacksons Food Stores, Par Mar Stores, Clipper Petroleum, Robinson Oil Corporation, Double Kwik, Atlantis Fresh Market, and dozens of other retail chains seeking to enhance their solution stack with managed services.
Please send any media inquiries to media@lulacommerce.com
Lula Commerce is a premier provider of digital commerce solutions for retailers and quick-service restaurants (QSRs). Our mission is to drive connectivity, empowering leading brands to serve shoppers across multiple channels while minimizing the operational burden and expertise required to create exceptional consumer experiences. Lula’s comprehensive product suite supports retailers through digital transformation, positioning us as a trusted growth partner by offering specialized expertise and integrations that connect all aspects of the digital ecosystem to unlock significant growth. For more information, visit www.lulacommerce.com.
