A small business takes time and effort to build, maintain, and grow. You need patience, a willingness to endure setbacks, and-most important of all-an experienced mentor.
John Matthews, president and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises, Inc., offers that mentorship. After decades of experience in corporate America, Matthews opted to start his own business. Thirteen years later, Gray Cat Enterprises was the result.
During his career, Matthews noticed how many small business owners and multiunit operators struggle and fail because they lack a sound understanding of basic business strategies. Some understand certain aspects of entrepreneurship well but stumble in other areas.
In Game-Changing Strategies for Retailers, Matthews walks readers through the key elements of founding, maintaining, and growing a small business. Starting with an overview of the nature of small businesses, Matthews demonstrates the importance of business planning and the intricacies of daily operations, merchandising, marketing, real estate, and capital management.
The result is a compact but comprehensive resource small business owners and multiunit operators can access as the need arises. Within these pages lies the foundation for successful sole proprietorship or multiunit operations.
About the Author: John Matthews, president and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises, Inc., has twenty-five years' experience in corporate America, working in areas ranging from general retail management to mergers and acquisitions. He provided consulting and senior project management for national and international companies, including Starbucks, the Body Shop, Sylvan Learning Centers, and Global Partners.
Matthews founded Gray Cat Enterprises in 2004. His consulting responsibilities within the company include consumer marketing for product launches, strategic product management, and retail consulting.
A regular speaker at large business group meetings, Matthews often appears as a guest on television and radio shows. His views have been featured in various newspapers and trade publications, including the New York Times, Brandweek, Convenience Store News, and the Chicago Tribune.
Raised in Plymouth, Michigan, Matthews earned his bachelor of arts in communication from Michigan State University. He is the author of Local Store Marketing Manual for Retailers and Grand Opening Manual for Retailers.