Testimonials & Speaking Engagements

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Professional Speaker's Services
An outstanding retail-industry speaker, John Matthews is available as a keynote speaker, moderator or presenter at your upcoming corporate or association event. Committed to making your event a success, Matthews researches your audience and customizes his speech's content to meet its unique needs. His commanding delivery on the speech platform captures your audience members' attention as he shares business insights and strategies that they can apply at their own firms with immediate results.

Testimonials:
"John provided an excellent program with many new and easily implemented marketing ideas. Attendees took away innovative and tangible tools to assist them in sales development of their retail locations." Doug DuBois, Director, Texas Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association

"John speaks the language of the people - the Quiznos franchisees were captivated by the potential for marketing their stores locally with the tools and techniques he recommends. John's ideas are simple and powerful, a killer combination in becoming the home town hero - all for virtually free." Steve DeSutter, Former Acting Chief Operations Officer, Quiznos

"Your session was a hit. Your expertise is a valuable asset to our members who struggle in the tough world of petroleum marketing and convenience stores." Andrea Henry, Director, Petroleum Marketers and C-Stores of Iowa

"Thank you. You had people buzzing and have left me in the difficult position of try to find someone to top you next year." John Quigley, President, Elmhurst Chamber Business Expo

"I have had the good fortune to hear John Matthews of Gray Cat Enterprises speak on two occasions in the past year. I find his ideas to drive retail sales to be new, exciting, and innovative. Any retailer that is wise enough to implement even a few of them couldn't help but increase their sales volume and bottom line." Ken Stoner, Convenience Store Project Manager, Martin Bros. Distributing Company

"John Matthews knows his topics, John comes very well prepared, keeps the audience intrigued and energized. John is passionate about his topics and gives his audience the practical approach to things and not the theoretical approach." Ziad S. Dalal, CEO, Nestle Toll House Cafe

"John Matthews' experience as a manager and leader of the marketing efforts at several convenience store and foodservice companies enables him to provide unique insight into the challenges retailers are facing today. In an era of heightened competition, John is able to provide clear, concise marketing solutions for chains of all sizes by drawing on his experiences in the retail trenches. As a result, he has garnered the respect of his peers and those in the retail community. After attending his presentation at Convenience Store Decisions' Foodservice Conference, convenience store operators were lined up 10 deep to get additional information. That's the best testimonial for any retail consultant." John Lofstock, Editor, Convenience Store Decisions Magazine

"John Matthews delivered an outstanding marketing presentation at our 2007 House of Bread franchise convention. As a small franchise company, it is even more important to obtain a return on your marketing investment. I didn't want another marketing cheerleader but rather someone with real strategies and tools to increase profits. John Matthews delivered and the Franchisees were congratulating me on the best speaker we have had in a long time." Sheila McCann, President & CEO, House of Bread Franchise, Inc.

"Your presentation to our organization, the Digital Graphics Group, International, was very well done and very well received by your audience. We had some other very interesting presentations but none that generated as many favorable comments as yours." Fred B. Johnson, II, Chairman/CEO, FB Johnston Group

"The Merchandising Executive Club of Chicago presented John Matthews as its featured speaker this past February. John did an excellent job. The feedback I received from many of the almost 200 guests as well as our M.E.C. Board of Directors was extremely positive and proved to be one of our highest attended events of the year." Stan Parsons, VP-Operations of American Bottling Co.; President, Merchandising Executive Club of Chicago

"You have spoken to our group three times over the years and you get better each time. Your current business is giving you an interesting global view of the things happening in the retail marketplace. Combine that with your knowledge of marketing and you have many valuable insights for folks in the media. The information you shared this time about kiosks is a great example of bringing together your retail and marketing expertise & for some great insights related to a new consumer trend. I look forward to the next time we work together because I can always count on you to prepare thoroughly and present professionally." John Henley, Senior VP/Director of Training, The Center of Sales Strategy

"The North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries remains grateful to you for your outstanding presentation last year at our regional meeting. Your attention to detail along with your keeping an eye on the big picture, sales success for all involved, was much appreciated." Lori S. Montana, Director, Illinois Lottery

"On behalf of the Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago....many members commented on how they look forward to using your information to reach decision-makers whom have previously been unattainable. The attendance to this presentation neared 90, which makes that session one of our highest in history." Grace Winston, President, 2004 Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago

"The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) members had the unique opportunity of having Mr. John Matthews from Gray Cat Enterprises as our featured speaker on March 1, 2006. Mr. Matthews, a professional speaker and experienced marketer, articulated to our members insightful and experienced nuggets of powerful marketing strategies they can as business entrepreneurs engage in with "little or no cost". I especially admired how Mr. Matthews supported business engagement with local chambers of commerce--he repeatedly recommended that belonging to a chamber is part of the foundation leading to a successful business plan. He also stressed the importance of thinking out of the box. Creating a niche. Working with other non-competitive businesses to "power" market. All these poignant suggestions were insightful and easy to follow, and exactly what businesses need to do today in 2006 to succeed. The BACC looks forward to inviting Mr. Matthews to return to future educational sessions for our membership." Janet Meyer, President of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

Previous Speaking Engagements:

Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores of Iowa Local Store Marketing February 4, 2008 Des Moines, IA 17 Regional Quiznos Co-Op Meetings Local Store Marketing Q2, 2008 USA Vistage International Networking with LinkedIn October 16, 2008 Rosemont, IL Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Keynote Speaker October 22, 2008 Elmhurst, IL House of Bread Annual Convention Local Store Marketing April 17, 2007 Seattle, WA Center for Sales Strategy at FMI Non-Traditional Marketing Funds and Customer Loyalty Innovations May 9, 2007 Chicago, IL National Restaurant Association, Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show Local Store Marketing May 19, 2007 Chicago, IL Downtown Naperville Alliance Retailers Local Store Marketing for Customer Retention May 29, 2007 Naperville, IL Convenience Store Decisions, Foodservice Show Foodservice Marketing June 5, 2007 Dallas, TX Barrington Career Center Keynote Speaker July 12, 2007 Barrington, IL Digital Graphics Group, International Brand and Consumer-Centric Marketing August 28-31, 2007 Copenhagen, Denmark Nestlé Toll House Café Annual Convention Advertising & Local Store Marketing September 17-18, 2007 Dallas, TX

Martin Brothers Distributing Local Store Marketing October 14-15, 2007 Waterloo, IA Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Keynote Speaker October 17, 2007 Elmhurst, IL Center for Sales Strategy Non-Traditional Marketing Funds and Customer Loyalty Innovations November 8, 2006 Atlanta, GA Wisconsin Restaurant Association Local Store Marketing for Customer Retention March 13, 2006 Milwaukee, WI Barrington Area Retailers Local Store Marketing for Customer Retention March 1, 2006 Barrington, IL Center for Sales Strategy Non-Traditional Marketing Funds and Customer Loyalty Innovations November 10, 2005 Dallas, TX Convenience Store News Future Forum Building Relevant Brands June 7, 2005 Charleston, SC NATSO Self-Service Kiosks February 10, 2005 Nashville, TN Center for Sales Strategy Non-Traditional Marketing Funds November 11, 2004 Atlanta, GA International Franchise Association Developing Advertising Co-ops October 28, 2004 Chicago, IL Digital Graphics Group, International Retail Trends October 15, 2004 Chicago, IL Broadcast Advertising Club Non-Traditional Marketing Funds August 23, 2004 Chicago, IL