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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 newsletter
May 2007
Volume 8 Issue 6

 

Profits_Plus Solutions
Tom Shay Photo
Article of the Month

Second fiddle

Leonard Bernstein was asked what was the most difficult instrument to play in the orchestra. He answered, "Second fiddle". He did not mean the instrument. He meant that no one wanted to be the second person in charge. Click on Article of the Month to view and read this article.

 

Book of the Month

Marketing Your
Retail Store
by Bob & Susan Negen

Here is a new book by a couple that definitely know the retail business. This book is written in terms that small business people can definitely relate to.

We have more books to suggest for your reading. Click on Book Referral to visit this page on our site.

 

Contact Us:

Profits Plus
P.O. Box 128
Dardanelle, AR
72834 USA
(727) 823-7205 Voice
(727) 898-3179 Fax

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Business Advisory

May 10 is National Small Business Owner's Day - Just a quick reminder. Let's all celebrate.

These past couple of weeks I have been out shopping for a madras sport coat. What a challenge! There were two stores that I visited. I received the usual poor quality, "Can I help you?" and when I said what I was looking for, in both instances people responded with telling me they don't carry Madras brand clothing.

Wrong answer. Madras is not a brand. Madras is a very pretty multi-colored plaid material with the small fabric pieces sewn together.

In the first store, the person was rather irritated with me that I told him the difference in the two. The salesperson pointed out that they had worked in the industry for just over a year. In the second store, a much more experienced salesperson laughed very loud at their fellow salesperson.

The point? People in your business don't want to be ignorant. I have never met an employee in any business that preferred to be ignorant.

People do not come to work with the intent of disappointing you. That happens because we fail to engage them. And yes, I am still looking for my madras sportcoat.

Internet Tip of The Month

New Calculator: Personal productivity ratio

Personal productivity ratio is a calculation that tells you how well your staff is producing sales. However, it also includes the support staff of your business. As you calculate this ratio and track it, our suggestion is that you closely watch the amount of staff hours spent on non-sales people.

Go to this link to visit this page: Personal Productivity Ratio

The Power Promoting Idea of the Month

Show them what you do

On a trip to New York last week, we stopped in Europa Cafe; a neat and fun place to eat. What made it fun was watching the salad bar. You picked a container of the size and type of lettuce you wanted. The person behind the counter asked what you wanted in your salad and what type of dressing. You watched as they mixed, with a lot of flair, your customized salad.

How about your business? Do you do alterations? What about repairing items? Are you a florist? People like to do business in places that are exciting and you can make it more exciting by doing those things that are normally done out of sight, in a place where all your customers can watch.

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2024
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Small Business

AdvisorieS

Whose job is this, anyway? Have you heard that before? The December Small Business Advisory offers ideas from those who have found solutions.

Small Business

NewS

Top Story

Past our announcement that the December newsletter starts our 26th year, we are discussing what is and what is not a problem.

 

Starting with, all these announced closings of retail operations is not a problem indicative of retail. It is an indicator of chain stores trying to correct the problems they previously made.

Article of the Month

We came across a solution of tasks not getting done as well as tasks not done correctly. We created an owner's manual for our business. Details in the Article of the Month.


Book of the Month

Atomic Habits by James Clear. Have you ever caught yourself saying that you had gotten out of the habit of doing something? Perhaps it is something you need to continue to do? This book can be applicable to personal and business life.

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

Whose job is this, anyway? Have you heard that before? The December Small Business Article of the Month offers ideas from those who have found solutions.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

Past our announcement that the December newsletter starts our 26th year, we are discussing what is and what is not a problem.

 

Starting with, all these announced closings of retail operations is not a problem indicative of retail. It is an indicator of chain stores trying to correct the problems they previously made.


Article of the Month

We came across a solution of tasks not getting done as well as tasks not done correctly. We created an owner's manual for our business. Details in the Article of the Month.


Book of the Month

Atomic Habits by James Clear. Have you ever caught yourself saying that you had gotten out of the habit of doing something? Perhaps it is something you need to continue to do? This book can be applicable to personal and business life.