Promotions · 5 min read

Running a promotion in petrol and convenience

By Natalie Factor, orsom · 23 October 2026

The short answer

petrol and convenience shoppers decide in seconds, so a P&C promotion has to be instant, simple and mobile first. Keep entry to one step, reward on the spot where you can and plan early for the bit that takes longest: getting every store on board.

Why is petrol and convenience different?

The whole visit lasts a few minutes. People grab a drink or a snack, pay at the counter and get back in the car. Nobody is reading a long entry mechanic on a fridge door.

The promotion has to explain itself in one line, enter in one step and pay off fast. If it can't do all three, the shopper is gone.

Which mechanic works best in P&C?

Instant win, most of the time. It turns a routine purchase into a moment and people find out straight away. Guaranteed rewards (buy two, get a reward) also work well because there's no doubt about the payoff.

Big draws can still sit on top as the headline but on their own they rarely shift a fridge.

Barcode or receipt: how should people enter?

Both work. Entering part of the product barcode is quick and needs no paperwork. Receipt upload proves the purchase and opens up retailer reporting, but it's one more step at a busy counter.

Whichever you choose, make it work on a phone in under a minute, with no app to download. Results should land fast too: we aim to return a receipt result within 15 minutes.

How do you handle independent and corporate stores?

This is where P&C promotions win or lose. Corporate networks have one approval process and set planograms. Independents decide store by store.

Start retailer conversations early, keep the in-store materials simple to put up and make sure the promotion still works if a store opts out. Report entries by retailer or banner so you can show each customer what their stores delivered.

What should the reward be?

Something people can use straight away. A digital Visa card sent by SMS or email into Apple or Google Wallet lands in minutes and works almost anywhere. A gift card for a retailer in the same network keeps the spend close to home.

What tends to trip people up?

Leaving retailer sign-up too late. It's usually the longest part of the plan.
Mechanics that need explaining. If it doesn't fit on a shelf wobbler, it's too complicated.
Slow rewards. A “we'll be in touch” doesn't feel like a win.
No retailer reporting. Your sell-in story for next year starts with this year's data.