The Gray Cat Blog
A comprehensive collection of blogs designed to assist small business owners and multi-unit operators.
Customers who may have patronized your new store when it first opened may now be looking past it due to familiarity of surroundings. Savvy retailers need to shake it up a bit on occasion to continue t...
Growing your enterprise can usually be accomplished following two paths: a) organic growth โ the process of building your overall portfolio of stores through the development of ground-up store build o...
For the multiunit operator, managing a retail real estate portfolio is tricky business. Keeping winning stores in tip-top condition โ both physically and financially โ is the key to long-term success....
A while back, a gentleman that wanted help selling his company approached me.ย I listened to him describe all the attributes of his company and I was intrigued.ย He gave me an overview of the past, pr...
Nothing like an acronym in the title!
A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps companies gain a better understanding of where they are positioned in the marketplace.ย In a nutshell, SW...
Imagine a business world where resources were plentiful and industry expertise could be available at every juncture. Where decisions could be made that dovetailed alignment in support of your strategi...
Recently, I appeared on the C-Suite Sherpa's podcast with fellow Chicagoan Brian Marshall where we discussed the biggest challenges facing a sole proprietor.
Have a listen to this 100-second clip.
Public relations can incorporate a number of items and each should be interwoven in a consistent theme. At the beginning of the year, identify key people, events and community tie-ins that you wish to...
When a multi-unit organization begins to grow, one common step in this process is the creation of advertising and purchasing co-ops that enable stores to pool their financial and strategic resources. ...
It was the situation that everyone dreads. Out of the blue, the anxiety-filled request was made โ the CEO had summoned me to his office. Thoughts raced through my head โ mostly bad thoughts, mind you ...
One of the questions I ask audiences when I deliver presentations on retail marketing is โHow many did a grand opening celebration for your store?โย I am generally amazed that usually only 1 in 5 rais...
Upon opening their first store, many single-store operators come to an often premature conclusion that they are going to franchise. While this may be a noble end-game goal, what is often missing from ...
