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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.

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May 2000
Sent to you at your request by Tom Shay and Profits Plus Seminars
Visit our website at www.profitsplus.org

The new article on the website for May is entitled The Price is Getting Right. It deals with the concept I speak of in seminars with regard to pricing against the big box competition. And if you missed the April article, it is still posted on the site. The April issue deals with the most frequently asked question, which is, "How much margin should I have?"

With many e-mail programs, you can click on the link at the end of this sentence to go immediately to the May article page on our website. The Price is Getting Right

New on the Profits Plus website:

There are a lot of new items on the website this month as we have added approximately 35 new pages. On the site, you can find:
The customer survey which is frequently mentioned in seminars.
The 24 cent pricing chart
The chart which shows how much sales you can lose when you raise your prices, and still have the same gross profit dollars.
We have also added all 26 of the posters that I give away in seminars. You can download them and print them for use in your business.

Don't forget about the business knowledge test. It is a 20 multiple choice question test which will test you on your ability to manage a business. As you answer the questions and press "submit", you will immediately get the answers and score. Play as often as you like. It is free for you to enjoy and improve your business knowledge. Retail Test Page

So, here is what we have found on the Internet in the past month to share with you.

Home Improvement

If a homeowner is going to get ideas for doing some home improvement to their residence, here is where they will be visiting to get ideas:

62% said a home improvement store
17% said a department store
15% said a hardware store
14% said a home furnishing or decorating store
9% said a lumberyard
7% said a specialty store
6% said an appliance store and
6% said a gardening store or nursery

Rocket science
Last month, I heard a speaker talking to folks in the automotive industry. He asked how often they had heard someone comment about a mechanic, saying, "Fixing a car isn't rocket science!"

Actually it is now more than that. The speaker went on to say that today's Ford Taurus has more computer technology in it than did the first Apollo spacecraft that landed on the moon.

Up and coming colors
If the products you sell are affected by the popularity of colors, for the next year shades of copper, red, and brown are listed as being the top three with sheer blues and greens next.

Thank you 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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MARCH 2026
Have the Small Business Advisories and News sent to your inbox. Subscribe HERE

Small Business

AdvisoriES


Every time I see the logo for Target stores, I think about small businesses and the need to know which people to target as their customers. Of course, of most importance is the person who has spent any money with your business.

 

I ask businesses if they know how much the average person spends with their business. Most offer a quick response with a dollar amount. That answer is incorrect as they are telling me what the average existing customer is spending. The average person in any community spends no money with that small business.

 

Looking for new customers without any plan of how to do so is just spending money. That is why every small business needs to know how to find and use information. Find ideas in the March Small Business Advisory.

Small Business

NewS

Top Story

Employee retention; is it important? Or is it easier to lose an employee and wait for the next applicant to walk in the door? The Small Business News for March shares some statistics of the expense you incur when you make the change instead of working to retain a current employee.

Article of the Month

It is baseball season and we use the sport as an explanation of the cost of growing your business. In Boston's Fenway Park, left field has a wall that is know as the green monster.

 

And that is what growing your business is - a monster! You can't successfully grow your business without a plan and knowing you will have the cash on hand to pay for the growth.


Book of the Month

Are you selling something or persuading the customer? With your employees are you repeatedly telling that employee or are you persuading them to excel?

 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Ciaidini is our suggested book for March 2026. Most definitely an appropriate read.

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

Every time I see the logo for Target stores, I think about small businesses and the need to know which people to target as their customers. Of course, of most importance is the person who has spent any money with your business.

 

I ask businesses if they know how much the average person spends with their business. Most offer a quick response with a dollar amount. That answer is incorrect as they are telling me what the average existing customer is spending. The average person in any community spends no money with that small business.

 

Looking for new customers without any plan of how to do so is just spending money. That is why every small business needs to know how to find and use information. Find ideas in the March Small Business Advisory.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

Employee retention; is it important? Or is it easier to lose an employee and wait for the next applicant to walk in the door? The Small Business News for March shares some statistics of the expense you incur when you make the change instead of working to retain a current employee.


Article of the Month

It is baseball season and we use the sport as an explanation of the cost of growing your business. In Boston's Fenway Park, left field has a wall that is know as the green monster.

 

And that is what growing your business is - a monster! You can't successfully grow your business without a plan and knowing you will have the cash on hand to pay for the growth.


Book of the Month

Are you selling something or persuading the customer? With your employees are you repeatedly telling that employee or are you persuading them to excel?

 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Ciaidini is our suggested book for March 2026. Most definitely an appropriate read.

 

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