Do It the Peppermill Way – 5 Ways to Connect With Your Raving Fans

The images of Las Vegas linger in my mind. Boy do they know how to do marketing there. Even in breakfast diners! Paul and I had spent the evening at the Venetian.  We asked a bartender where to go for breakfast and her immediate response was “The Peppermill.”  Then our cabbie on the ride home gave us the same advice. … Read More

GO BIG or GO HOME

It is NCAA basketball time. I LOVE IT! It is March Madness.  All these teams get one shot.  If they lose – they go home.  If they go big, they advance. For you, to advance means to increase your profits, right?  So how do you go big? In order to go big, let’s start by going small.  Let’s look at … Read More

So Much Profit Hidden In This One Word

There Is So Much Profit Hidden In This One Word. The following is a true story. The names have been changed to protect the innocent idiot. Pat owned a toy and children’s clothing store. After a great year in which she was up about $42,000 from the previous year while maintaining the same expense structure, Pat was looking forward to … Read More

My team is making me crazy…

Dear Cathy, Do you allow other employees to do markdowns (or be in charge of them and make them)? How do you handle delegating that job (one specific employee)? Also, is it okay (wise, smart…..not sure of the right word to use here) to make a rule that NO MARKDOWNS are to be taken without my approval? Any reason this … Read More