A Big Year of In-Person Shopping Is Ahead

GSTV, the national on-the-go video network engaging audiences across tens of thousands of fuel retailers, has released new survey data underscoring that a big year of in-person shopping is ahead for the holidays, with convenience stores and consumer packaged goods brands positioned to capitalize on spending when people are out and about, according to www.dailydooh.com. The figures come from GSTV's most recent Consumer Pulse, surveyed via MFour in August 2026. 69% of respondents report running more errands than usual during the holidays, while 61% say the season brings a lot more driving overall. For microbusinesses operating near high-traffic retail or fuel corridors, visibility during errand trips can translate into incremental sales.

Holiday Errands and Driving

One standout moment is the week of Thanksgiving, when 55% report driving extra trips, led by a big grocery run (52%) and holiday shopping or Black Friday (48%). In addition, 17% of GSTV viewers expect to be driving more this Thanksgiving than last year. As consumers drive, 73% say they are already thinking about what they still need to buy. The purchase decision remains open once consumers leave home.

Specifically, 69% bought something they hadn't planned on during their most recent errand trip, while 78% add a stop whenever something is right on their way. Another 45% say they don't realize they need something until they're already in the car or inside a store. 77% of GSTV viewers say they regularly buy something at a convenience store while running errands. Tiffany Southwell, Senior Vice President, Measurement, Customer Experience (CX) & Product at GSTV, said: "During the holiday season, consumers are navigating more errands, more driving, and more purchase decisions. From Black Friday and holiday shopping to an unexpected stop at the convenience store, consumers are not finished making purchase decisions when they leave home – in fact, these decisions are only beginning."

Convenience Store Purchase Patterns

Among the convenience-store trends the survey identified, cold drinks are the most recent purchase (49%), followed by snacks (36%), fountain or frozen drinks (28%), and lottery (22%). Only 19% walked in and paid for gas alone. Roughly half (48%) walk in with everything already decided, but 52% still add at least one unplanned item, most commonly because "I saw it and wanted it" (50%). Convenience stores serve multiple roles: 58% count on them for "a little treat for myself," 48% for a morning fuel-up, and 45% for road-trip snacks and drinks.

GSTV operates across more than 29,000 locations, reaching 115 million unique U.S. adults each month. The company describes itself as the leading consolidated and scaled digital media platform in the convenience and fuel channel, though that is its own characterization. All figures cited reflect self-reported viewer behavior collected via MFour in August 2026.