Now more than ever, you need to know if you and your salespeople are “order takers” or “sales makers.” This can be very difficult to tell based on sales and/or profit margin at your store - or virtually any store. 

Gordon Ramsay of TV kitchen fame might be 'colorful,' but he speaks his mind. And it's clear we can learn from him in between the bleeps and blurred out middle fingers; he's a man who believes in consistency through standards.

Do you see what I see? Of course not! If you could see through your customers’ eyes, they would tell you how well, or how poorly, your employees engage customers.

Many of us make it a point to see our doctor for regular checkups. Doing so gives the physician the opportunity to assess the current condition of our health, and gives us a chance to ask questions about medical issues or concerns. A thorough exam can help to diagnose early symptoms and gives the doctor an opportunity to offer recommendations and advice for a healthier lifestyle.

Owners and operators of tire dealerships and automotive service shops, no matter how large or small, are being targeted by the United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. This is the federal agency that enforces minimum wage, record keeping and overtime rules.

Asking if an employee is "bad" is the wrong question. It’s judgmental and doesn’t help along to the best solution for the employee and the business. Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

It was widely believed that when the Republicans took control of the federal government in November that small businesses could breathe a sigh of relief. The reason is that traditionally, Republicans are “more friendly” toward business.

Owners at some point give authority to others in their stores. Call them store managers or assistant managers: anyone who is in charge of others. It becomes a necessity to delegate authority to someone. You can’t handle it all.