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.
I have always enjoyed creating something from the ground up.
One of my favorite hobbies is landscape design. Over the years, I’ve transformed blank spaces into gardens complete with patios, winding...
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...
One of the most effective—and least expensive—ways to improve customer service, increase sales, and retain employees is simple: recognize great work.
While bonuses and financial incentives certainly ...
In this episode with George Lowe I talk about how I maintain balance in life but knocking items off the list.
There are some stress free tidbits here.
Want more ideas? For more information on Time ...
In this recent episode with Dilan Abeya, we discuss the benefits (and determents) of using AI.
AI can be a fantastic tool - it can also make you lazy.
Have a listen.
Most companies have a marketing plan. Far fewer have a brand game plan.
There’s a difference.
A marketing plan outlines where and when you’ll spend your advertising dollars. A brand game plan defi...
Few decisions have a greater impact on a retailer’s long-term success than selecting the right location. A great operator can improve a marginal site, but even the best management team will struggle...
Every entrepreneur eventually reaches a crossroads: continue growing the business or prepare for an exit.
Whether you’re planning to sell to a strategic buyer, private equity firm, family member, or ...
Retailers spend enormous amounts of time selecting store locations, hiring great employees, and building the right merchandise assortment. Yet one of the most important decisions often receives far ...
Every budgeting season brings the same ritual.
Department heads defend their budgets. New positions are requested. Software subscriptions magically become “essential.” Travel is justified. Last yea...
Over the past 30 years, I’ve developed business plans for organizations ranging from startups to multi-unit retailers, and one lesson has remained constant: a business plan is only as good as its ex...
One of the biggest challenges facing multi-unit retailers is determining the right product assortment across a diverse network of stores. Different neighborhoods, customer demographics, store sizes,...
