Switch to win

Energy consumption has become one of the biggest issues for convenience store operators in recent years.

With competition intensifying and store standards rising, an appealing store environment and wider ranges of chilled food and drink have been essential drivers for continued growth in the neighbourhood retailing sector.

But this investment has come at a cost, and with margins under pressure it is vital that c-store operators take control of their overheads.

With energy prices such a critical influence on profitability, many c-store operators have spent hours of valuable time sourcing the best possible tariffs, or been caught out by the promise of too-good-to-be-true deals from over-zealous energy salesmen and rollover contract price hikes. So we at Convenience Store have looked into what we can do for retailers, and we think we can help.

Your favourite fortnightly has teamed up with Utilities Direct to create an online price comparison site under the Convenience Store Business Energy brand.

The site will give you a contract with an energy supplier - binding on both sides - that will help you manage your overheads. As well as giving you an at-a-glance comparison of the deals available from all energy suppliers, it also allows you to agree and ‘sign’ the contract online so that you have a permanent record of your tariff and contract length.

You will also receive email reminders when the notice period is due to prevent you being rolled over on to a new tariff. So you can have complete confidence that you are getting the best deal available, and that the energy supplier will stick to the offer made.

How does it work?

Go to http://convstore.udswitchit.co.uk, and enter your details including your meter reference. Based on your location, type of meter, energy usage and contract renewal date, you’ll receive a list of quotes from the UK’s leading energy suppliers, specific and bespoke to your store.

Once you are happy with the tariff, click on your selected option and follow the instructions on screen to initiate your change in supply.

All the leading energy companies are represented, and you can use the service for both electricity and gas if required. Retailers with more than one store or particularly high usage options such as half-hourly meters are covered, too.

If you would prefer to speak to an operator to either get a quote over the phone or to get assistance in viewing the comparison online, you can call Convenience Store Business Energy direct on 0161 945 5288.

Any questions?

Are there any costs involved in using this switching service?

We do not need to charge for using this switching service as we get commission directly from the supplier for introducing a new customer to them.

How often are prices updated?

This can depend on the supplier and the market. We are notified directly by suppliers when their prices change. These are then immediately input into our pricing matrix to make sure that the prices you see are as up-to-date as possible. Prices for some suppliers may change every week while other suppliers’ prices may not be changed for a number of months.

How long does it take to switch suppliers?

Switching suppliers normally takes between six to eight weeks to complete. However, various factors can change this, for example, if you are still in contract with another supplier, or if the new supplier does not have all the information they require to complete the switch. If you use our online signing service the time taken to switch will be greatly reduced as all details may be input online, along with the signing of the contract.

If I select a supplier to sign online is this signature legally binding?

We offer a number of suppliers, who will accept contracts signed online. We use a well established and trusted electronic signing service, which is both legally binding and secure.

Why should I use your service rather than go directly to the supplier?

We have negotiated special prices with the various suppliers, so the prices that we offer will normally be less than you would get if you went directly to the supplier. In addition, we handle any issues that may arise, validate your contract and track it all the way to make sure that it is processed as quickly as possible. •