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.
Back in my 30s, I received a promotion that I thought demonstrated I was doing a pretty good job.
I moved from Marketing Manager to Regional Director at Little Caesars, with responsibility for three ...
As companies grow, open items begin to appear that the company doesn't necessarily have the additional resources to throw at these projects.
Gray Cat gets contracted by companies like this that seek ...
Not everything can be planned.
But, many items can - waiting to the last minute to write that report; create that program; plan that trip; etc. adds undue stress to your time management and ultimatel...
Part of the allure of being an entrepreneur is the balance that you can achieve in your life.
In this podcast episode wth Ilaina Sperling, we discuss this.
Labor management is one of the most fundamental—and challenging—disciplines in running a profitable organization. Whether in restaurants, retail, healthcare, or service-based operations, labor is both...
22+ years is a long time to have your own business.
In this podcast episode with David Zylstra, we talk about the many hats one has to wear as an entrepreneur.
Looking for balance?
Own your calendar - it is as simple as that. Â Pre-planning eliminates a tremendous amount of anxiety out of your life.
In this podcast with Jada Willis, I discuss this.
“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.”
While knowledge, experience, and expertise are critical to business success, relationships often determine how quickly opportunities present themselves an...
If you operate multiple stores, chances are no two locations are exactly alike. Some are newer, some have been remodeled several times, and others are still operating with fixtures, layouts, and merch...
Every successful product begins with an idea.
Maybe it was developed in your kitchen, workshop, garage, basement, or home office. Perhaps it solves a problem you’ve personally experienced, fills a ga...
Successful retailers don’t build their merchandising strategy one promotion at a time—they build it one year at a time.
As you begin planning for the upcoming year, your merchandising and promotional...
