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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
March 2000

Sent to you at your request by Tom Shay and Profits Plus Seminars
Visit our website at www.profitsplus.org


In this month's issue of the e-retailer, we will share with you:

· Information regarding staffing and pay
· A study of the next five years of demographics

On the Profits Plus Seminars website this month, we have added a new article entitled, 8 Steps to Solving Customer Complaints. The article reviews the traditional six step plan to deal with a customer who has a complaint against your business, but then offers two additional steps that few merchants take. With many e-mail programs, you can click on the link at the end of this sentence to go immediately to that page on our website.

8 Steps to Solving Customer Complaints

We introduced the retail knowledge test in December. It is a 20 question multiple choice test about business management. Take the test as often as you like. Your test is graded instantly, and you will see any questions you have missed, and the correct answers. It is free for you to enjoy and improve your retail knowledge.
Retail Test

Manpower, Inc has released a report in which they have surveyed 16,000 businesses, learning that 24% are planning to hire more workers in the next 60 days. Only 10% of those surveyed report they are planning to scale back their staff.

While many employers believe that money can help them keep an employee from bolting to another job, a Yankelovic Partners study showed that 40% of workers will stay in a job they hate because the money is good. Perhaps this survey is suggestion that employers are paying too much to keep an employee.

American Demographics magazine reports retailers can expect a shift in their customer base in the next five years. Customers in the 50 to 59 year old group will experience two changes in their lives. To begin with, this traditionally affluent age group will increase in size by 140% between 1995 and 2005.

Within this group, 38% will be moving, with many leaving cities and retiring to rural areas. This moving provides retailers with excellent opportunities as this group may be "downsizing" their possessions, and looking for purchases that better suit their new lifestyle.

Thanks for allowing us to visit your computer this month, and taking the time to read our newsletter. We trust you have received some business building ideas from it, as we look forward to seeing you again next month.

Get your profits plus,
Tom Shay

 

PROFITS PLUS, FOUNDER OF...

 

©1998-2026 Profits Plus Solutions, Inc.
Tom Shay
PO Box 128
Dardanelle, AR 72834

(727)823-7205

MARCH 2026
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Small Business

AdvisoriES


Every time I see the logo for Target stores, I think about small businesses and the need to know which people to target as their customers. Of course, of most importance is the person who has spent any money with your business.

 

I ask businesses if they know how much the average person spends with their business. Most offer a quick response with a dollar amount. That answer is incorrect as they are telling me what the average existing customer is spending. The average person in any community spends no money with that small business.

 

Looking for new customers without any plan of how to do so is just spending money. That is why every small business needs to know how to find and use information. Find ideas in the March Small Business Advisory.

Small Business

NewS

Top Story

Employee retention; is it important? Or is it easier to lose an employee and wait for the next applicant to walk in the door? The Small Business News for March shares some statistics of the expense you incur when you make the change instead of working to retain a current employee.

Article of the Month

It is baseball season and we use the sport as an explanation of the cost of growing your business. In Boston's Fenway Park, left field has a wall that is know as the green monster.

 

And that is what growing your business is - a monster! You can't successfully grow your business without a plan and knowing you will have the cash on hand to pay for the growth.


Book of the Month

Are you selling something or persuading the customer? With your employees are you repeatedly telling that employee or are you persuading them to excel?

 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Ciaidini is our suggested book for March 2026. Most definitely an appropriate read.

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.

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

Every time I see the logo for Target stores, I think about small businesses and the need to know which people to target as their customers. Of course, of most importance is the person who has spent any money with your business.

 

I ask businesses if they know how much the average person spends with their business. Most offer a quick response with a dollar amount. That answer is incorrect as they are telling me what the average existing customer is spending. The average person in any community spends no money with that small business.

 

Looking for new customers without any plan of how to do so is just spending money. That is why every small business needs to know how to find and use information. Find ideas in the March Small Business Advisory.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

Employee retention; is it important? Or is it easier to lose an employee and wait for the next applicant to walk in the door? The Small Business News for March shares some statistics of the expense you incur when you make the change instead of working to retain a current employee.


Article of the Month

It is baseball season and we use the sport as an explanation of the cost of growing your business. In Boston's Fenway Park, left field has a wall that is know as the green monster.

 

And that is what growing your business is - a monster! You can't successfully grow your business without a plan and knowing you will have the cash on hand to pay for the growth.


Book of the Month

Are you selling something or persuading the customer? With your employees are you repeatedly telling that employee or are you persuading them to excel?

 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Ciaidini is our suggested book for March 2026. Most definitely an appropriate read.

 

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.