Sales & Marketing

When BJ's Auto Spa co-owner Chris Bjurlin purchased his property in Phoenix in February 1999, he also inherited an auto garage. "Actually, the space was a combination auto garage and gas station with 1,000 square feet devoted to the c-store section," he said. "We left the exterior walls standing, took down a wall, ripped down the tire area and widened the space for the c-store. We also didn't keep any of the in-store equipment."

Analysts once raised red flags warning that online convenience stores and Internet grocers could grow to be the next big threat to brick-and-mortar retailers. A year later, however, it's the online retailers that are scrambling for survival.