Shep

High-Level Overview

Shep Digital Solutions is a merchandising technology platform designed for the convenience store (c-store) industry, connecting screens and systems from fuel pumps to point-of-sale to deliver targeted digital marketing experiences.[1][2][4] It serves c-store retailers by enhancing the consumer journey—converting fuel-only customers into multi-product buyers through automated, multi-channel content distribution based on buying variables, ultimately boosting in-store traffic, basket sizes, and high-margin sales.[1][2][3][4] Founded in 2011 and based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company operates with 2-9 employees and reported revenue of around $6.6 million, emphasizing rapid expansion via its SMART platform.[2][3]

Origin Story

Shep Digital Solutions was founded in 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee, focusing from the outset on digital shopper marketing for convenience stores.[2] Leadership is anchored by CEO Bob Bradley, who brings over 25 years of executive experience in media, entertainment, and technology from roles at Qualcomm, Scripps Networks Interactive, Disney/ABC, Discovery Networks, and others; he drives corporate strategy, investor relations, and content efforts.[5] The company's evolution centers on building a unified platform that integrates forecourt and in-store screens, emerging from a need to monetize content across distribution channels in retail settings, with early emphasis on turning transactional fuel stops into profitable multi-item purchases.[1][4]

Core Differentiators

• Unified Platform Integration: Connects every screen and system (pumps to POS) into one platform for seamless content management and dynamic, targeted experiences across the store.[3][4]
• Automated Multi-Channel SMART System: Distributes merchandising content based on consumer buying variables like location and behavior, maximizing message effectiveness without manual intervention.[2]
• Retail-Focused Outcomes: Specializes in c-stores to drive foot traffic, increase basket sizes, and lift high-margin sales by personalizing digital interactions for fuel customers.[1][2][4]
• Expert Partnership Model: Combines proprietary tech with strategic content deployment support from a small, experienced team to simplify operations and boost profitability.[4][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Shep rides the wave of digital transformation in retail, particularly the shift toward unified commerce in convenience stores amid rising demand for personalized, on-premise experiences.[1][3][4] Timing aligns with post-pandemic consumer habits favoring quick-service retail, where c-stores compete with e-commerce by leveraging physical-digital hybrids to capture impulse buys—market forces like fuel station digitization and data-driven personalization favor Shep's pump-to-POS orchestration.[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by enabling smaller retailers to adopt enterprise-level marketing tech, competing with broader players like Fiscal Systems or Grocery TV, while fostering growth in a fragmented $700B+ U.S. c-store sector.[1]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Shep's momentum—fueled by rapid expansion and a niche focus—positions it to scale as c-stores invest in AI-enhanced personalization and EV-integrated forecourts.[2][3][4] Upcoming trends like real-time data analytics and omnichannel retail will amplify its platform, potentially expanding beyond c-stores into adjacent sectors like truck stops.[1] Influence may grow through partnerships and content innovations under Bob Bradley's media expertise, solidifying Shep as a key enabler of profitable consumer journeys in an increasingly screen-saturated retail world—echoing its core mission to transform fuel stops into revenue engines.[5]