The Gray Cat Blog
A comprehensive collection of blogs designed to assist small business owners and multi-unit operators.
Most people that know me know that I like to get involved in the details and one area that I really like to dissect is a profit & loss (P&L) statement. In my opinion, this is where many people miss o...
Excited to celebrate Gray Cat's 19th year!
John Matthews is the president and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises and is responsible for the management of all consulting activities for the firm, which includ...
Every retail operator starts with that first, single store. They hone their operational skills; develop a “how-to-go-to-market” strategy; and hopefully find success for years to come. Then they get ...
I remember my first interview with a convenience store chain. Â
I had just spent 9 fast-paced years with Little Caesars Pizza as the National Marketing Director – we went from 1,300 stores to 5,000 s...
Below is an excerpt of a recent interview discusses the importance of connecting with the customer:
Q: Why are brands so important?
Matthews:Â Brands identify and establish an emotional connection, a...
Employee peer recognition is often more influential among your workers than achieving actual prizes or monetary rewards. Developing ongoing peer recognition programs will keep your employees excited a...
Running a small, start-up business has it share of ups and downs. When I launched my company nearly twenty years ago, running my own small business has been both rewarding and challenging. It has enab...
In the convenience store marketplace, margins continue to tighten on core products such as candy, snacks and tobacco. Prudent operators are attempting to stem the tide by introducing foodservice items...
What is your branding game plan?
Not the branding media schedule – that is just part of it – but rather, your overarching strategic decision-making game plan on all of your branding initiatives? Most...
You own a bunch of stores all varying in size and age. Over the years, product assortments and sets have come and gone and you have ridden certain designs into the ground. Each of your stores needs a ...
“The nice thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression.”
— John Harvey-Jones
Truer words have never been spok...
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...
