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Retail Management \ Business News Archive
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| Bop a Bunny | Most businesses treat problems like a bop-a-bunny game rather than taking the broader view. |
| Are You Too User Friendly? | "User Friendly" systems give benefits to users without demanding comprehension of the underlying process. But when such systems operate outside of normal parameters, it's important to have access to someone who understands the system's internals. |
| Order and Chaos | Escalating the long term decisions while giving employees the power to handle day to day problems can keep an organization both focused and flexible. |
| Choosing a Consultant | Even when a consultant offers what you need, it's still important to make sure their values, their process and their projected schedule correspond to your business needs. |
| Problem Solving Versus Process Improvement | Problem solving is less adversarial when managers draw on the talents and insights of their employees rather than "giving orders." |
| Where To Go Next | Everyone knows which way is up, but who can take you there? This article discusses the true costs associated with implementing a new management strategy. |
| Family
Businesses |
In the S&P 500, Family owned businesses typically have ROI's that are 40% higher than the rest. This insightful article explores why, and what it means for your business. |
| Innovation | There were hamburgers before Mcdonalds. There were cars before Ford. If you want the world to beat a path to your door, you need to do more than just build a better mousetrap. |
| Change | It's a modern truism that change is constant, but many people in business resist doing what it takes to adapt and stay current. What does the objection to change look like? |
| Growing Pains | The entrepreneurial skills that it takes to run a small business are different than the skills it takes to run a medium sized one. |
| Compensation | You can buy that kind of loyalty... but raising someone's salary is not the way to do it. |
| Managing vs Controlling | Top down management styles are demotivational and distract executives from planning for their company's future. |
| The Interview and the Hiring Process | How to not lose a hundred dollars a minute. |
| Upgrading the Management Process | Some businesses upgrade their equipment because they think it's easier than upgrading their workforce |
| What is a team player? | Many interviewers fish for "team players" but catch yes-men. |
| Why A Consultant? | Aimed especially at small businesses, this article outlines the benefits that a small business should expect to derive from a good consultant. |
| Inventory Planning | Retail success means only stocking what you need, and that requires planning, foresight and analysis. This article details the process of stocking items which sell quickly. |
| Gronich From Garlans Speech | Faced with a mall opening nearby, the President of Garlan's employes Winning@Retail and Winning@Business. This is his speech delivered at the April 15th Management One Affiliate meeting. |
| Where is the Weakest Link? | Competing with a chain store is like getting into the ring with a heavyweight champion. This article looks at the strengths and weaknesses of chain stores and how to take them down. |
| Marketing Your Way to Success | There's a difference between marketing your business and advertising it. |
| Count Those Votes | A key principle of inventory management is targeting classes rather than simply stocking "hot items". |
| Retaining Your Customers | All businesses need to differentiate themselves. Differentiating
by product or service has become less effective for most businesses
in the new economy. Small to medium businesses need to build relationships
to retain their customers. |
| Cost of Goods Sold | A helpful look at the fundamentals of accounting and some common errors. |
| Kick the Extra Point | A straightforward guide to reducing markdowns. |
| Why Management One; The Markdown Blues | A detailed article on strategies to reduce markdowns. |
| Managing Markdowns | How much extra revenue is generated by a 5% decrease in markdowns. |
| The 95/5 Rule on Store Policies | You have to give before you get. Focus on the majority of customers who do reciprocate excellent service. They build your business. Don't worry excessively about the minority who might try and exploit your offers. |
| September 2006 | How Affordable
is your Customers' Satisfaction? On the cost-benefit analysis of customer service. Getting the Most from your Workforce Management One® processes improve employee loyalty and help companies retain their best people. Clients Making News The Cup Cafe at Tucson's Hotel Congress was recently selected as one of three in Arizona to be listed in the 2006 edition of "The Hotel Book, Great Escapes North America." Hanig's Shoes was featured in September's "Chicago Where" magazine in the article "The Scoop on 22 Top Hidden Shops and One-of-a-Kind Finds." |
| August 2006 | The Numbers may be Black and White But They're not always Right! The margin of error in the data you use for planning is a source of expense. What Do You Do and What Do Your Clients Think You're Doing? Your business is based on the need you fulfill, not the physical product that you sell. |
| May 2006 | Two Management One® Processes Evolve |
| April 2006 | Cost Analysis Today is the first day of the rest of your business. Don't waste money because you're emotionally invested in a bad idea. A Case in Winning@Business™ Solving an increase in work demand by hiring another person diffused the crisis but didn't solve the problem problem. Winning@Business™ streamlined the process. Information Bombardment Good business decisions depend on gathering reliable information. Quote of the Day "Excellence is not an act but a habit." -- Aristotle |
| February 2006 | Basic Respect The customer may not always be right, but they always deserve your respect. The Intrinsic Premiums of your Business Defining specific business needs and values and aligning those needs with a well defined hiring and promotion process can help ensure that your business has good employees. Management One can help. You Just Don't Know Can your managers draw upon the experience of all employees in order to solve problems? Can they achieve consensus or do they dictate? Quote of the Day "He that won't be counseled can't be helped." -- Benjamin Franklin |
| January 2006 | Facing the New Year What are your New Year's resolutions for your business? How will you keep them? The Pushin' & the Pullin' By basing purchasing on accurately forecasted customer demand, markdowns can be greatly curtailed. I Object!! Having salespeople able to deal with customer objections is critical for success. However dealing with objections too directly sets up an uncomfortable right vs. wrong dichotomy. There is a better way. Management One Clients Make the News Again The fashion page of a New York Times December issue highlighted a >6" by 8" photo of Nevena Borissova of Curve. Nevena is a client of Errol Chavkin (Los Angeles). The article quoted Nevena extensively. Quote of the Day "Nothing happens in the universe until something moves." - Albert Einstein |
| December 2005 | All the World is a Stage Managers often overlook vulnerabilities until a crisis arises. Talking to informed people outside your business can help a manager guard against this. Management One® -- Reaching around the Globe Management One now has a presence in every U.S. state and has extended its presence in five countries, most recently England. We've led a wide variety of groups to success, from Fortune 500 companies to high school football teams, from large retailers to small shop owners and from lumber companies to funeral homes. With affiliates with local knowledge and industry expertise implementing the Management One processes,their ability to improve a business's effectiveness is near universal. You must be a Cheerleader! When implementing change, it is critical to measure and use the measurements to visibly reward those who are doing well. Quote of the Day "HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!" -- Evan Wise and Marc Weiss, Managing Directors of Management One® |
| November 2005 | It's not what you think. . . A recent survey shows that the majority of shoppers get their fashion information directly from the stores they shop at. Does your store add that kind of value? Keeping an Eye on the Business If As the world changes, even the most basic retail methods can move from optimal to outdated. Markdowns. Performance incentives. Are there better ways? Another Shining Star Lisa Klein, Errol Chavkin's client, provided on-camera makeover services for Style Channel's show "How do I Look?" Quote of the Day "Remember that the six most expensive words in business are: 'We've always done it that way.'" -- Catherine DeVrye, business writer |
| October 2005 | The Curiosity Shortage As individuals and business age, they take more for granted. However the people who are best at what they do have a natural curiosity about the subject of their work. Face Reality If you've been in business long enough, good and bad both feel like normal. Empowerment means Efficiency Traditional hierarchical business organization is like a game of telephone. Empowering employees shortens the chain of people who will garble the message Quote of the Day "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." -- Albert Einstein |
| September 2005 | Management One® Offers Consultations
For Those Affected By Hurricane Katrina Management One affiliates offer charitable contributions of their time to those affected by Katrina. Available nationwide. Getting the Right Perspective Good planning means accounting for multiple perspectives ranging from your local customers to a cross country perspective on the retail market. Management One New Orleans affiliate looks ahead. feels deep regret for his Louisiana clients' businesses which were ruined by the hurricane. He seeks to rebuild his client base in Dallas. Starring in the News Chicago Management One affiliate Cathy Wagner's clients were chosen by ABC as Chicago's Best -- Men's: Guise, Women's: Fuschia, and Children's: M and Em's. Congrats!! Quote of the Day "Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change." -- Brian Tracy |
| August 2005 | What Hat Goes with your Outfit? |
| July 2005 | Innovate to Lead Identifying an unfulfilled need is enough to outcompete the major players. Why a Whole Year? Long term plans and the commitment to achieve them are crucial to business success. If you waste your days fighting fires while the larger opportunities pass by, we can help. Clients in the News Errol Chavkin's (Los Angeles) client, Talulah G, was lauded in the Wall Street Journal as a highly successful business while competing side by side with big chain stores in the Las Vegas Fashion Mall. The ballistic popularity of Jesse Westbrook's (Little Rock) boutique client, Scarlet, prompted Arkansas Times readers to vote it the "Best hip clothing store." Congratulations to both Management One® clients! Quote of the Day "We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -- Pogo |
| June 2005 | The Good & The Bad Change is inevitable, but not inevitably good. Leveling the Playing Field Forecasting analysis and support tools once developed in house by the largest chains are becoming available to small retailers. Up to date inventory outcompetes vast selection. Small retailers are put on equal footing with larger chains. Time to Step Outside Employees and current customers don't present a balanced view of your whole target market. Quote of the Day "Once upon a time I was riding on the top of a First Avenue bus, when I heard a mythical housewife say to another, 'Molly, my dear, I would have bought that new brand of toilet soap if only they hadn't set the body copy in ten point Garamond.' Don't you believe it. What really [influences] consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form." -- Advertising guru David Ogilvy |
| May 2005 | First Steps First Tips for making the customer experience live up to your advertising Try it on If your merchandise is good, getting customers to try it on allows customers to see the opportunities the merchandise offers to improve their image. Try on a consultant to see what they can do for your business. There's no obligation. We think you'll like the way your bottom line looks. Do Your Homework To sell, you need to know who you're selling to. In detail. Quote of the Day There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction." - John F. Kennedy |
| April 2005 | Is ALL Growth Good? Growth without a stable foundation is often a fatal move. Bursting Our Buttons Cadence 120 is one of only 25 bike shops nationally listed in VelloNews Spring 2005 magazine survey section entitled "Cream of the Shops". Cadence 120 is a client of James Hallman. Clarice Holden, owner of Island Breeze, a client of Page Keel (Wilmington, North Carolina), was nominated for the YWCA Cape Fear Women of Achievement Award. The Pitfalls of Selling on Price If your product is unique, selling the benefits yields better results than competing on price. |
| March 2005 | Your Market Share Defines Your Strategy A company should plan to dominate their segment of the market. Current market share determines your strategy going forward. Starring. . . Management One® Clients Ted McCoy's clients lauded; Backwood Mountain Sports wins "Best Outdoor Store", it also was awarded "Best Store for Men's Clothing". North & Co. was named "Best Store for Women's Clothing" and Silver Creek Outfitters earned "Best Guide or Outfitter" Affiliate Errol Chavkin's client, Lisa Klein, was featured in a 2-page article in "Life & Style Weekly". Hitch your Business to a Star "Genius" is dependant upon individuals. But once ability is distilled into a process, it can benefit anyone. |
| February 2005 | The Secret to Increasing Productivity Measurement, by itself, is motivational. Accountants Look at Business through Accountant Eyes Inventory is a liability, not an asset. Accountants record the past, but can't predict trends. Reevaluating your Mental Model Your business model determines the perspective that you bring to problem solving. How has your industry changed since you first developed your business model? |
| January 2005 | Facing the New Year Have you planned out what you need to do to meet your business goals in the new year? The Pushin' & the Pullin' Basing inventory purchases on accurately projected customer demand improves sales. I Object!! Answering objections is crucial, but doing it too directly can antagonize the potential customer. Management One Clients Make the News Again A larger than 6" x 8" photo showed owner Nevena Borissova (Errol Chavkin's client) assisting one of her clients in her store, Curve. |
| December 2004 | It's Lonely at the Top Whether it's a spouse or a board of directors, business owners can benefit from a second opinion Teamwork: A Success Story Management One delivers results on the football field Sales Blurb When you're talking, you aren't selling. |
| November 2004 | What Drives your Business? Does your business depend on nurturing wants (sales) or solving problems (facilitating)? Be Creative Keep in touch with various contacts via a newsletter Price or Risk? Competing on each has it's unique advantages. The Legacy of Your Business Why do your repeat customers come back? |
| October 2004 | In the News Ken Seawell's help to small and mid sized businesses featured in Detroit News Stacey Pecor, Page Keel's client and the owner of Olive & Betty's was quoted in Newsweek re: the fashion world. Affiliate Tom Licking's (Consulting Concepts) client "Levy's of Nashville" is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Growth Strategy Expand within your core competency rather than outside it Does Your Business Walk the Talk? What are your business values? |
| September 2004 | Management One® Goes International
Management One expands to Ireland and the UK Above Average Most managers believe their employees to be above average. What's the difference between having high expectations and achieving good results? Are You in Shape for the 4th Quarter? 'Tis the season to evaluate last year's New Year's resolutions, before you find yourself promising "next year I'll..." |
| August 2004 | Management One® is Bursting off the Map Management One clients are now in nearly every state in the country, and another country has been added to the international list. Practicing Good Leadership Good leaders praise results and not people. Bridled Energy Many employees want to be more involved in problem solving. |
| July 2004 | Where to Throw the Dollars: Man or Machine? Too often businesses invest in technology while neglecting to invest in their workforce The Burden at the Top Certain health problems are more common to business leaders WIN If your journey isn't straight, you'll have to walk twice as far . |
| June 2004 | Taking Care of Caring Does your business successfully encourage your employees to care about your customers? A Whole List of Excuses. . . People fear change. How many of these excuses do your recognize? The Successful Retail Flow A four step process, from gathering data to putting it to use. |
| May 2004 | Finding the Right Person Suggestions for a more effective interview Growing Pains As businesses grow, success hinges less on product and more on organization Product does not a Business Make Success is not simply a quality product. It is an organized process that efficiently procures delivers a quality product to its target market. |
| April 2004 | Newsworthy Trends Page Keel's client, Olive & Bette's, is featured in "Spring Fashion 2004" The "Wood River Journal's" Reader's Choice 2003 awards awarded a total of 4 "best of category" awards to two of Ted McCoy's clients Cibaria Cucina Italiana, an Management One client, had nearly two pages in "Inside Tucson Business" written about them and their beneficial relationship with Management One® Give This a Try Do the important things first or you won't have time for them . |
| March 2004 | Management One® is Bursting off the Map
Management One® clients now are in nearly every state in the country. Practicing good leadership The importance of praising results rather than people. Bridled Energy Employees have many skills that managers fail to utilize. |
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