In episode 2 of his Five Things podcast, Brian Smith talks with business consultant and founder of Gray Cat Enterprises, John Matthews.
John Matthews is the president and CEO of Gray Cat Enterprises and is responsible for the management of all consulting activities for the firm, which include retail consulting for multiunit operations; interim divisional or general management leadership; consumer marketing for companies launching products in the retail sector; and strategic project management.
His twenty-five years’ experience in retail management includes marketing and operations management; category management; mergers and acquisitions; facilities management; and real estate and corporate communications in a spectrum of industries, including quick service restaurant, convenience store operations, and general retail. In recent years, Matthews has performed consulting and senior project management for Quiznos, Sylvan Learning Centers, Starbucks, Global Partners, Potbelly Sandwiches, The Body Shop, Deluxe, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, and Burt’s Bees in both marketing and operations functions.
His views have appeared in various newspapers and industry trade publications including The New York Times, Convenience Store Decisions, Brandweek, Convenience Store News, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and others.
He has spoken before hundreds of business groups and appeared on numerous radio and television media outlets. In addition, Matthews has written two step-by-step manuals, Local Store Marketing Manual for Retailers and Grand Opening Manual for Retailers. His latest book, Game Changing Strategies for Retailers is now on Amazon.
Prior to founding his own company in 2004, Matthews held senior management positions as president of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and as VP of marketing, merchandising, facilities, corporate communications, and real estate at Clark Retail Enterprises, Inc. Additionally, Matthews worked for nine years in marketing management as the national marketing director of the Little Caesars Pizza Corporation. Matthews was raised in Plymouth, Michigan, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Michigan State University.
LINKS
– graycatenterprises.com
– https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-matthews-00253a
AUTO-GENERATED TRANSCRIPT FROM YOUTUBE