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With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading small business management expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

e-ret@iler
March 2000

Sent to you at your request by Tom Shay and Profits Plus Seminars
Visit our website at www.profitsplus.org


In this month's issue of the e-retailer, we will share with you:

· Information regarding staffing and pay
· A study of the next five years of demographics

On the Profits Plus Seminars website this month, we have added a new article entitled, 8 Steps to Solving Customer Complaints. The article reviews the traditional six step plan to deal with a customer who has a complaint against your business, but then offers two additional steps that few merchants take. With many e-mail programs, you can click on the link at the end of this sentence to go immediately to that page on our website.

8 Steps to Solving Customer Complaints

We introduced the retail knowledge test in December. It is a 20 question multiple choice test about business management. Take the test as often as you like. Your test is graded instantly, and you will see any questions you have missed, and the correct answers. It is free for you to enjoy and improve your retail knowledge.
Retail Test

Manpower, Inc has released a report in which they have surveyed 16,000 businesses, learning that 24% are planning to hire more workers in the next 60 days. Only 10% of those surveyed report they are planning to scale back their staff.

While many employers believe that money can help them keep an employee from bolting to another job, a Yankelovic Partners study showed that 40% of workers will stay in a job they hate because the money is good. Perhaps this survey is suggestion that employers are paying too much to keep an employee.

American Demographics magazine reports retailers can expect a shift in their customer base in the next five years. Customers in the 50 to 59 year old group will experience two changes in their lives. To begin with, this traditionally affluent age group will increase in size by 140% between 1995 and 2005.

Within this group, 38% will be moving, with many leaving cities and retiring to rural areas. This moving provides retailers with excellent opportunities as this group may be "downsizing" their possessions, and looking for purchases that better suit their new lifestyle.

Thanks for allowing us to visit your computer this month, and taking the time to read our newsletter. We trust you have received some business building ideas from it, as we look forward to seeing you again next month.

Get your profits plus,
Tom Shay

 

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Tom Shay
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MAY 2026
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Small Business

AdvisoriES


"It's all fun and games", is the title of the May Small Business Advisory. Too many employees think the business owner is simply renting their time. Showing up is sufficient.

 

This month's advisory shares a series of engaging activities that remind, and reward, employees that making the sale is what creates their pay check.

Small Business

NewS

Top Story

Meeting with the accountant in February before the tax return is due. I am not sure how this became a tradition. There is nothing you can do to change the numbers for 2025.

 

Why not meet in May, instead? One-third of the year would be completed, and a May meeting would allow for a discussion about what can and should be changed for the last eight months of 2026.

Article of the Month

The article of the month for May is titled, "No more tears". The discussion focuses on inventory which is a great investment in your business. But, only if you know how to manage the "open to buy" and will monitor the inventory turn rate.


Book of the Month

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, PhD. As one who has found over the years that many of the problems in a small business occur because of the mindset of the owner of the business, this book is a must read.

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.

BOOK US

With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading Small Business Management Expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

Small Business

Advisories

The April Small Business Advisory quotes research performed by a faculty member at Purdue. The question was asked of 20,000 people, "What do you want in an experience with a business?".

 

The advisory shares the top five answers, for which the majority require the skills that only a human can have. It is not artificual intelligence or software that deals with customer service management.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

It has been many years since we received an email from Ron of Arrow Floor Covering. Yet we still read it time and again as there are words of wisdom in his message.

 

Would the next generation want to work in your small business?


Article of the Month

Owning a small business has a lot of similarities to owning a small business. Not so much because of the hours you spent with the business, but because of the commitment you are making to yourself, your employees and your customers.

 

The April Article of the Month is titled, "With this ring, I thee wed".


Book of the Month

Everything in the April edition of Small Business News has a tie to the connection of you and your employees to your business. The same is true with this month's book suggestion which is, "Hit Refresh" by Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft.

 

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.