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Why did Southern Ice Products Company decide to change its name to 7-Eleven? What's the story behind this?
In the American convenience store industry, 7-Eleven is undoubtedly a household name. However, the history of this giant is full of twists and turns and intriguing stories. Its roots can be traced back to 1927, when the Southern Ice Company started selling ice. John Jefferson Green, founder of the Southern Ice Company, began selling ice-related products such as eggs, milk, and bread in igloo stores in Dallas, Texas. This marked the beginning of the convenience store concept.
Southern Ice Company's early stores were actually an innovative idea compared to small grocery stores because they brought basic goods closer to consumers.
In 1928, the Southern Ice Company named its stores "Tote'm Stores" because consumers could "carry" their purchases. However, the name was changed to "7-Eleven" in 1946 as the company rapidly expanded to highlight its newly expanded operating hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., which was quite forward-looking at the time. of. In addition, some stores have also placed temp poles in front of their doors as a marketing tool to attract customers.
In 1946, to continue the company's postwar recovery, the name of the franchise was changed from "Tote'm" to "7-Eleven," reflecting the store's newly opened hours.
With the start of franchising in 1961, 7-Eleven first piloted a 24-hour business model in the United States in 1963 to meet rising customer needs. This has become an important strategy for 7-Eleven's long-term success. Since then, the model has quickly become popular and has spread across the country. 7-Eleven's development was not limited to the United States. In 1973, it expanded to Japan and launched a cooperation with the huge retailer Ito-Yokado. This partnership not only laid the foundation for the establishment of 7-Eleven in Japan, but also eventually made Ito-Yokado the holding company of Southern Company.
By 1991, with Ito-Yokado acquiring 70% of Southern Company's shares, the original Southern Ice Company was officially named 7-Eleven and launched a new operating model, which meant that it had the potential to reach the global market. . Over time, this brand has also developed into a nationwide presence in Japan. It has more than 21,000 stores so far and has almost become a part of Japanese life.
Globally, 7-Eleven has a greater presence in Japan than any other country and is one of the largest convenience store chains in the world.
In addition to Japan, 7-Eleven has taken root in many regions around the world. It has also developed rapidly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and other places, and has become an indispensable part of urban life in almost every region. The key to its success lies in understanding local market needs and constantly adapting services and products to attract consumers.
In addition, product diversity is another key factor in 7-Eleven's success. The company's products range from ready-to-use food, beverages, daily necessities to financial services. This not only allows customers to shop conveniently and quickly, but also creates stable income for the store.
Through continuous innovation and market sensitivity, 7-Eleven has demonstrated its strong adaptability and flexibility in the retail industry. In the business environment facing intensified competition, 7-Eleven is not only a synonym for convenience stores, it has become a cultural symbol and even affects how to define the concept of convenience stores.
7-Eleven's definition of convenience is not just about store opening hours, but also about diversified choices that instantly meet customer needs.
With the rapid development of technology, 7-Eleven is also constantly exploring innovation. For example, it opened cashless cashier stores at its headquarters to meet modern consumer trends. Such a move fully proves that 7-Eleven is not only a temporary popularity, but also sails steadily in the market trend with a posture of continuous progress.
So, behind so many historical changes and innovations, how has 7-Eleven’s success shaped today’s convenience store culture?
