By John Matthews, founder of Gray Cat Enterprises. “……And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun…..” — Gilmour, Mason, Waters, Wright What is the quickest way to reduce stress and achieve greater balance in your life? Develop better time…
Business Planning, Part II
By John Matthews, Founder, Gray Cat Enterprises Recently, I had a terrific session with one of my clients on business planning. I have written articles before on the importance of business planning, but this session resonated with me. What was reinforced to me during our meeting is that no matter how you approach business planning,…
Creating A Branding Game Plan
By John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. 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 advertising managers have a page or two media plan that an agency has produced…
Rite Aid’s Stansfield Honored With 2012 Confectionery Leadership Award
2012 marks the third time Stansfield is recognized by NCA with previous wins 1994 and 2003. Rite Aid Category Manager Val Stansfield received the 2012 Confectionery Leadership Award from the National Confectioners Association (NCA), one of the oldest, most respected confection associations in the world. Awarded annually, recipients must demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviors in business…
Making Prudent Capital Investments
By John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. When it comes to the long-term success of a business, one of the key drivers is prudent capital re-investment. Unlike operational expenses that are used to run the daily business or working capital to purchase inventory, money invested in the business that yields incremental…
Time For Business Planning!
John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . .” Ah yes, the annual business planning cycle is upon us. The time of the year to huddle all of your business colleagues in a room to hash out the key initiatives for the upcoming…
Why Every Convenience Store Owner Needs An Exit Plan
By Ted Thomas, Sun Exit Advisors Most convenience store owners are too busy to think about their exit plan. There comes a time, however, when business owners want to successfully leave their business. Unfortunately, when it comes time for transition, most don’t know how to accomplish that goal. A common mistake is to rush to…
Changing its Stripes
Susser Holdings Corp. at a glance A dynamic marketer Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Susser Holdings is the largest non-refiner, convenience store operator in Texas, with additional stores in Oklahoma and New Mexico. It operates 516 convenience stores through its Stripes LLC division and is the 19th largest c-store chain in the U.S. Convenience Store…