Making your job easier. While the vast majority of our website is created to assist those small businesses that we both serve, this portion of our website is created to provide you with quick, easy links to the information you need from us so that you can be assured that we are the correct and best resource for you.

Audio/visual needs - We like to think that we are the easiest organization to work with. Our audio and visual needs are few. Here is a link to that very short list.

Availability - We keep our website calendar up to date to let you know which days are currently available.

Biography - Here is a brief description and history of Tom Shay.

Clients - Here are some of the organizations we have worked with.

Extended learning - For some of our clients, we have created educational material "behind the scenes". It does not have any of our company information or names on it because it is most important for a business to see the benefit of their membership and participation with your organization. For other groups they want to show that they utilize the best available, and put our name on it. This link will take you to our educational website.

Greeting card - No, we haven't opened a division making greeting cards. Instead we have created an "online greeting card" that you can utilize, for free, to send a reminder to all possible attendees for your event. It will remind them of the theme, date, time, and location as well as tell them about the topics Tom Shay will be presenting at your event.

Media Kit (abbreviated) - This is a quick and easy to read version of our presentations catalog. This abbreviated version is a PDF file and when printed is four pages long. It contains the titles of our most popular presentations.

Media Kit (full) - We refer to this as our "catalogs of presentation topics. It tells you about our great follow up, the additional services we provide, and outlines the topics we have developed. The full version of the media kit is a PDF file and when printed is 22 pages long. In addition to the titles of presentations, it provides a brief description of many of the presentations. You can also click on the links below to read about the presentations, see the notes for each of them, articles about the topics, and for many of the topics, you can listen to a live recording of that session.

Mission - Why our organization was created.

Photos - You are going to need a photo or two of Tom Shay to include in your promotional material when we work together.

Promotion - When speaking at a trade show, Tom Shay would like to help further promote your event. We have a unique idea with regard to working with your vendors. Take a look at what we can and will do.

References - These folks invite you to contact them to talk about our working with them currently, and in the past.

Teleseminars - Tom Shay can create for your organization an educational event with each of the participants receiving a Power Point presentation on their computer, handout material, and participation by telephone. This method is very affordable and does not require participants to be "on line" for the event.

Testimonials - What our current and past clients have said about working with us.

Video - We have several samples to offer you. A traditional "media kit" sample as well as 20 minute snippets from three of Tom Shay's most popular presentations.

Where's Tom - Here is Tom's up to date schedule of appearances.

Keynotes:
Characteristics of a Successful Business!
From a suggestion of a person in a Tom Shay presentation, the question was asked, "What do you consider the characteristics of a successful business?" This presentation is available as a keynote by this title, and as a seminar entitled, "What it takes to become a 5 Star Business!"

Connecting the Dots Within the Main Street District Businesses!
Your downtown businesses can be like a series of dots - totally unrelated to each other, perhaps just in a straight line. Or, your "dots" can be linked to each other in a format so that together they create a beautiful picture. If you have business people that are members of the CAVE Society (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), then you can develop what is necessary to revoke their society membership and connect the dots into a work of art. In this keynote, Tom Shay will share with you the technique for getting businesses to actively participate in your district.

Keys to building strong retailers
A Main Street district has two options in having strong retailers; they can search and recruit new businesses to join the existing businesses. Another option is to work with the existing businesses and help them to become better businesses. It is not that a district should select one over the other; instead, both should be utilized. This keynote by Tom Shay shows how to do the latter.

Strategies to win in 2010
While the media may be telling us of continuing doom and gloom, each business can control its' own destiny. Here is a list of what to do, what not to do, and what to stop doing.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Business Strategies...'Retha-Style!
When she sang the song "Respect", Aretha Franklin probably knew she had a hit record. Tom Shay says the song provides businesses with ideas to better understand what their customers want.

Small businesses don't die, they just commit suicide!
Reports from the US Census Bureau show as companies have downsized, and individuals decide they want to own their own business, there are more and more new small businesses being started. Yet, some 95% will not be in business to have their 5th anniversary sale, and only half of those will celebrate their 10th anniversary. Businesses with many years of experience are not immune to this problem. See why, Small businesses don't die, they inadvertently commit suicide!

The 7 Human Traits - How to sell to them!
No matter what country you come from or reside in; your economic or social status; or any of the other details; there are certain aspects about people that transcends all lines. The important aspect for small business is to be aware of them and learn how to utilize them as you sell to your customers.

Business Strategy Skills Track:
Characteristics of a Successful Business!
From a suggestion of a person in a Tom Shay presentation, the question was asked, "What do you consider the characteristics of a successful business?" Here are the 10 characteristics of the most successful businesses.

Strategies to win in 2010
While the media may be telling us of continuing doom and gloom, each business can control its' own destiny. Here is a list of what to do, what not to do, and what to stop doing.

Making the Most of A Trade show!
Surely, attending a trade show should be an investment a business makes, expecting to see dividends from their time and money. Yet so many businesses experience a trade show as just an expenditure. Tom Shay, who has participated in trade shows for over 40 years as a vendor and as a buyer, shares with attendees what it takes to make the most of a trade show.

Pricing Strategies for ProfitsPlus!
There is variable pricing, everyday sale pricing, blind price items, and sensitive price items. How do your businesses create the combination that benefits their bottom line the most, and keeps the customer coming back? Your attendees are sure to see their gross margin increase after participating in this seminar! One participant reported an increase of $79,000 in profits from this seminar!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Business Strategies...'Retha-Style!
When she sang the song "Respect", Aretha Franklin probably knew she had a hit record. Tom Shay says the song provides businesses with ideas to better understand what their customers want.

Small businesses don't die, they just commit suicide!
Reports from the US Census Bureau show as companies have downsized, and individuals decide they want to own their own business, there are more and more new small businesses being started. Yet, some 95% will not be in business to have their 5th anniversary sale, and only half of those will celebrate their 10th anniversary. Businesses with many years of experience are not immune to this problem. See why, Small businesses don't die, they just commit suicide!

What it takes to be a 5 star business!
From the presentation, "Characteristics of a successful business", Tom Shay has created a workshop that that provides an in-depth opportunity for a business to examine, develop strategies, and establish deadlines for taking their business to the next level.

Your Customer doesn't live here anymore!
This seminar presents solid, tried and proven ideas that businesses can examine and utilize as they develop that "always shop here first!" During this seminar, Tom presents ideas for:
* Identifying what type of store you should be
* Recognizing the five types of customers and knowing which type you want
* Developing the customer service techniques that customers crave
* Providing the five qualities every customer wants
* Fulfilling the customer's equation for value

You've got to be NUTS to work in this business; how Southwest Airlines does it
Most frequent flyers observe that Southwest Airlines has a very different way of doing just about everything in their business; from joke telling and peanut throwing flight attendants to pilots that are helping to load baggage and assist people boarding planes. Many attendees will have had days in which they thought they were nuts to work in the industry they are in. This Tom Shay session shows how to apply these unique principles to your own business.

Financial Management Skills Track:
Basic Financial 101
Too many business managers and owners rely on a bookkeeper or their accountant to track the financial data. If we were to give a quiz to these same people, we would likely find them lacking in basic financial knowledge. In this informative session, participants will obtain a well rounded understanding of how they can use the information to help them in better managing their business.

Black Ink: Cashflow Management Secrets Your Accountant Never Shared!
Sure, most all businesses get a financial sheet that is updated each month, but is it being utilized to its fullest? Do they create a cash flow chart? And have they established a set of goals, both long and short term? Seminar attendees will discuss examples of these, and create a plan for the future of their business. The EZ CA$HFLOW software program is provided to each participant for these seminars at a minimal additional price.

Can you get more from the investment you have in your business?
Every business owner has made a substantial investment of money in their business. If instead, that money was invested in stocks, bonds, or a money market, the owner would surely want to know what the rate of return would be. The same should be for their business; they should know what the rate of return is for their investment in the business. And more importantly, they need to know how to improve the rate of return. In addition to explaining how to make this calculation in simple terms, Tom Shay shows participants how to utilize a FREE calculator on the Profits Plus website to assist them in this endeavor.

Creating positive cashflow with an “Open to Buy”!
You will find that a majority of businesses do not understand or utilize an open to buy. Yet the majority of small retail businesses that fail each year have a financial sheet showing them as profitable on the day they close!

Too often, that needed cash is sitting on the shelf as excessive inventory Or, how many business owners and managers are surprised each month as they examine their financial statements to see there is more inventory than they wanted in their business?

This problem can be solved. Understanding and utilizing an “open to buy” will move marginal businesses to profitable businesses. Attendees will be provided with a link to the Profits+Plus web site where they can receive a FREE “Open to Buy” calculator.

So, that's where the money goes!
Most business owners look at the bottom line of their monthly profit & loss statement and then at their checking account business to see two radically different numbers. The traditional question is, "If I made all that money, why isn't it sitting in my checking account?"

This session assists participants in understanding this age old question about their business as well as help them to make sure there is enough cash in the checking account at the right time.

The 9 Piece Tool Box for Your Business!
Most every home has a tool box for home repairs. Depending on the skills of the home owner, the number and quality of the tools will vary. With a business, shouldn't the owner or manager have the best tools available? This presentation provides attendees with the necessary tools for improving their business.

Three Steps to Increasing Your Profit Margin!
This session is designed for those who want to take their management skills to the next level. Utilizing the free online Profits+Plus calculator, participants are shown how to improve the profitability of their business by making intricate adjustments. This calculator is always available to participants for use in their business.

Your Assets - Are they working for you or just sitting there?
As a business owner examines their balance sheet they see that the top half details all of the assets controlled by their business. What we know is that businesses that do a better job of utilizing their assets are much more profitable than those that do not. This session helps attendees to evaluate their assets and how to increase the rate of return they provide. Attendees are show how to utilize a FREE analysis calculator from the Profits Plus website.

Main Street Districts Track:
Connecting the Dots Within the Main Street District Businesses!
Your downtown businesses can be like a series of dots - totally unrelated to each other, perhaps just in a straight line. Or, your "dots" can be linked to each other in a format so that together they create a beautiful picture. If you have business people that are members of the CAVE Society (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), then you can develop what is necessary to revoke their society membership and connect the dots into a work of art.

If the Internet works for Amazon, why won't it work for me?
It is amazing, the number of businesses that either do not have a website or believe that their website is only a 'static' advertisement for their business - much like a yellow page advertisement. This presentation helps people to engage their creative thinking process to find ways to get their existing and potential customers to visit their website and engage the services and products of that business. After all, if the Internet works for Amazon, why shouldn't it work for your business?

Keys to building strong retailers
A Main Street district has two options in having strong retailers; they can search and recruit new businesses to join the existing businesses. Another option is to work with the existing businesses and help them to become better businesses. It is not that a district should select one over the other; instead, both should be utilized. This keynote by Tom Shay shows how to do the latter.

Marketing Skills Track:
CVS Marketing - Cause, Viral, Social
Traditional forms of advertising - television, radio and newspaper are not only expensive and often ineffective, but the audience they reach is diminishing. Cause, viral and social marketing can do a better job of getting the message to customers. Learn from Tom Shay how to reach today's customers - effectively and inexpensively.

If Patton ran your business
There is a war going on out there. Should a business defend their market position, become an attacker, a flanker or a guerrilla warrior? This interactive workshop helps a business owner to define the proper strategy and then determine the tactics they will implement. Using stories and experiences of General George S. Patton, Tom Shay leads participants in this most useful exercise.

Power Promoting Ideas 1
Many retail businesses know how to advertise, but few know how to promote. See the special tweaks that will deliver the advertising message and bring the customer back. These retail management seminars are presented in such a unique and interactive manner that your attendees will be talking about the fun they had and the ideas they received long after the conclusion of your event.

Power Promoting Ideas 2
Power Promoting Ideas is a retail seminar that puts people and ideas together. After having created a winner such as this, how do you follow up? With another edition of Power Promoting! With input by participants who have attended the first edition of the seminar, we have now produced another retail book and another round of profit generating ideas.

If your organization has utilized Tom Shay’s Power Promoting retail seminars and your attendees are asking, “What’s next?”, then the only answer is Power Promoting Ideas 2.

How to put "Sizzle"on Your Sales Floor!
Businesses that have high average sales tickets and high sales per square foot do not do so by accident. During this presentation, techniques for improving both will be shown. And these ideas do not require a large budget!

The Internet is for the dough not just for the show!
Sure, every business has heard that they need to have a web site. And while many do, their site is little more than a billboard for their business on the information super highway. Attend this presentation and see how other businesses are creating web sites that produce more sales than a store front location!

Turning a Sales Flyer into a Sales Happening!
If your company promotes the use of direct mail sales flyers by retail merchants, this presentation is what you need to increase sales, increase the number of flyers distributed and increase the testimonials you receive from these merchants.

Staff Education Track:
Getting Extraordinary Results from Ordinary People!
You visit another business to find that their manager has a staff which is full of exceptional people. That manager was not "lucky". Instead, the manager was able to lead each of the staff to excel. How did they do it? Seminar attendees will hear the secret of getting extraordinary results from ordinary people!

Masters of Legendary Service!
Everyone has had the experience at least once; a manufacturers' or wholesalers' representative, or a salesperson in an independent or chain store, demonstrates a sincere and deep interest in the wants and needs of the customer. Can you learn the motivation this person has? And, can you teach the hidden secret the salesperson utilizes to give the customer the pleasant experience? You, personally, and the business you work in, or own, will reap the rewards as you learn to teach the secrets of the Masters of Legendary Service!

Team Up for Success!
Here are the secrets to solving the need of, and problems of employees. The audience will learn how to build a team that involves the veteran employees and develops the techniques that focuses their staff on profits. Attendees will learn how to:
* Develop job descriptions
* A policy & procedure manual
* Create their own school of education for employees
* Attendees will also see how their developing these tools will add to their profits and establish an environment for success.

When your management style isn't working and your employees aren't either!
It is a frequently heard comment; "My employees aren't doing what I need them to do. I just don't have good employees." Unfortunately, what all these employees share in common is a manager or owner whose management style isn't working either. This interactive session helps attendees to identify how they will react and manage in situations within their business. Then they are shown a different style of management for that situation and invited to compare the two to see which way is more likely to help with their management decisions.

Sales Skill Track:
Advanced Professional Selling Skills!
This session is for those who want to have a staff with the sales skills that are second to none. Explaining the nuances of the true professional with emphasis of the fine points such as word selection, questions to ask, how to ask questions, and even the stance a person takes that can cause substantial sales increases.

It's not about YOU!
Many salespeople have attended sessions designed to provide them with additional technical information so that they can better explain their products and services to their customers. And yet with all of that information, they frequently fail to close the sale. Why does that happen? It happens because the selling situation is not about you, the salesperson. Learn the differences between buyer oriented sales and sales oriented sales. It is what separates the professionals from the rest!

Relationship Selling Skills are a Big Deal!
How about a new twist to sharing sales skills? This presentation involves a unique deck of playing cards and participants in small groups. This sets the stage for question asking, and idea sharing to assist participants in improving their sales skills.

So, You Want to Be a Master Salesperson!
The ideal presentation for salespeople, demonstrating ways to resolve customer complaints, "tag-team" sales techniques, the five questions a master salesperson uses, the three things a master salesperson sells, the five traits of a valuable team member and the importance of calculating the lifetime value of a customer.

The Magic 8's of Selling!
New employees, whether they do or do not have previous sales experience, don't walk onto the first day at work knowing how to identify the types of selling scenarios they are exposed to every day. They also miss many of the opportunities to close a sale. The Magic 8's of Selling outline how to identify 8 selling scenarios and 8 ways to close a sale. The magic will appear as sales in your business increase.

Vendors Track:
Cultivating Accounts that Must have You!
A presentation designed for the sales staff of manufacturers and wholesalers to show how you can develop a loyal account by knowing where a dealer needs assistance.

Why Fly Paper Works! Attracting Buyers to Your Trade show Exhibit!
A unique presentation designed for a trade show where the sponsor wants to have a special event for the exhibitors. This presentation shows to exhibitors what it takes to get merchants to stop at your exhibit and what you can do to endear the buyers to you and your company.