The Gray Cat Blog

A comprehensive collection of blogs designed to assist small business owners and multi-unit operators. 

LinkedIn – The Power of Networking Nov 13, 2024

When I started Gray Cat Enterprises in 2004, I was living in Chicago and for the first couple of years, all of my clients were based in Illinois.  This was fine at the time, since I had a...

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LinkedIn as a Tool Nov 12, 2024

I am living proof that by using LinkedIn, you can create a broader network of working professionals to foster relationships with and begin to build up an impenetrable circle of contacts that are...

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Sometimes You Have to Start at the Bottom Nov 04, 2024

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have held some pretty nice corporate roles.  I was the National Marketing Director of Little Caesars back in their high-growth years; a VP of five...

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A Blog About Writing A Blog Oct 28, 2024

About a decade ago I began to publish a blog focused mainly on improving processes within small business. Many of these blogs are derived from having worked many years in larger organizations and...

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Gray Cat Unleashed Episode 11: Store of the Future Oct 22, 2024

Change has been with us throughout time, but the worldwide pandemic seemed to put change on hyperdrive.  Every timeline became compressed and long-term trends seemingly happened overnight....

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The Importance of Brand Pillars Oct 22, 2024

If you think about some of the most successful brands in America, they are well-defined in in attributes that support the vision, mission, and values of the brand.  These attributes are often...

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Developing A Retail Real Estate Strategy Oct 17, 2024

Organic growth by a retailer is an exciting time for the company. Reinvesting earnings into the expansion of their branded stores through new construction communicates that a) business has been...

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Local Store Marketing: Sports Sponsorships Oct 07, 2024

Most sports teams-especially the smaller, local teams-will have a variety of sponsorship packages that are available. Depending on your budget, it can determine the extent of your sponsorship....

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Operationalizing Your Business Plan Oct 07, 2024

We have all experienced it. The dreaded process of spending hours upon hours creating a strategic business plan that maps out the goals of the organization. We develop the targets and create lofty...

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Burn the Ship Podcast: Top of Mind Networking Oct 01, 2024

Proactive networking is critical to stay top-of-mind.

Here is a short clip where I discuss this topic.

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Going all the way there with Food in a Convenience Store Oct 01, 2024

 

Sometimes you need to make the quantum leap and go all the way there. 

Here is a quick clip from a recent podcast I participated in with John Lofstock where we discussed taking a...
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Burn the Ship Podcast: Balancing the Pipeline Oct 01, 2024

I am living proof that by using LinkedIn, you can create a broader network of working professionals to foster relationships with and begin to build up an impenetrable circle of contacts that are...

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