Thursday, July 30, 2009

Simply amazing, simply Wawa

I first knew Wawa as a convenience store, on par with 7-Eleven, but with a stranger name. It was a quick stopping point for coffee or snacks on my way to somewhere else. Now it has become a destination in its own right. Many businesses, even those beyond the service sector, would do themselves a favor by studying the Wawa model.

Wawa's core purpose is "To Simplify Our Customers' Daily Lives." And that's exactly what it does.
  • Need a little caffeine pick-me-up? Wawa has dozens of fresh coffee pots to pour from, so you never have to wait for a fresh brew-- or someone else to pour.
  • Concerned about the once-and-trash nature of disposable coffee cups? You can drink "green" with a refillable Wawa coffee mug that fits snugly in the console of your car.
  • Lunch? Head to the touchscreens to place your order, and it's ready in minutes. Couldn't be easier.
What impresses me more than a specific service is the fact that Wawa gets it. It offers simple services quickly and in a smart way, with an interface -- like a touchscreen or coffee center -- that's easy and even enjoyable to use.

I know I'm not the only Wawa fan. There are 149,099 on Wawa's Facebook page. There's even a Facebook "Addicted to Wawa" group.

No, I don't work for Wawa. I just love being able to satisfy my everyday needs with one quick stop. And the gas prices are hard to beat.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Where does the money go?

Like most people, I like to keep track of my money. Now I can do so in an entirely different way. For instance, the $20 bill in my wallet has traveled 121 miles in 110 days, 11 hours, and 15 minutes--or an average of 1.1 miles per day--since its last owner reported in. The bill is now 121 miles from its previously noted location in Hughesville, Md., where the owner received it as change at a Wawa when buying coffee.

I'm not sure what the value is of knowing so much about your money, but it's a fun bit of mind trivia. To learn where your money comes from--and where it goes--visit Where's George.