The Gray Cat Blog
A growing library of practical business articles and insights created to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchisees, and multi-unit operators strengthen leadership, improve operations, drive growth, and build more profitable organizations.
Shooting for targets - be it initiatives, projects or financial - puts a stake in the ground to focus the organization.
In this podcast episode with George Lowe, I talk about implementing a "Daily Sa...
In this podcast episode with Bea Guzman, we talk about what makes a bad leader.
On the flip side, exhibiting leadership traits that allow the team to do their respective roles for a common goal - mak...
Budgets are tight, but you need to move top line sales – fast! What is a quick and easy way to expand your customer base? Partnering with noncompeting retailers to help your broaden exposure is a simp...
One of the hallmarks of successful brands is consistency. Whether a customer encounters your company online, in-store, through advertising, or at a community event, the experience and message should...
Few responsibilities have a greater impact on profitability than labor management.
Schedule too few employees, and customer service suffers. Long lines, empty shelves, delayed orders, and poor expe...
One of the most common questions I hear from convenience store operators is:
Should we partner with an established foodservice brand, or should we build our own?
The answer is simple:
Both strate...
Be honest.
You probably wish you were a better networker.
The good news? Networking isn’t a personality trait reserved for extroverts. It’s a skill that anyone can develop through consistency, cur...
Retailers spend significant time and money driving customers through the front door.
But what happens after they walk inside?
That’s where in-store marketing takes over—and it’s one of the most un...
One interview question has stayed with me throughout my career.
After spending nine exciting years as National Marketing Director for Little Caesars during one of the fastest growth periods in the ...
Try These Calendar Management Tips
If it feels like time management gets harder every year, you’re not imagining it.
Emails, text messages, instant messaging, video calls, project management platf...
Change is inevitable.
Customer expectations evolve. Technology advances. Competition intensifies. New products emerge. Today’s convenience store must continually adapt—or risk becoming irrelevant.
T...
I never turn down a good cup of coffee—especially when it’s paired with a conversation about careers.
Over the years, I’ve had countless colleagues ask if they could “pick my brain” over coffee. Mo...
