Topics business audiences love to hear:
GREAT MARKETING
- Understanding Your Brand (Show/Hide Details)
(Presentation 1 hour, Workshop version 2 hours)
When you have a guiding principle to help you with all your decisions, those decisions become a lot easier to make and the results are a lot better. This presentation teaches you the methods I use to help businesses and their owners uncover the most powerful tool any business owner can have – your Character Diamond. Your Character Diamond is the core values and guiding principles of every business decision you make.
The hands-on workshop will also lead you through the uncovering of your own personal and business Character Diamonds. (Note: this workshop is only for business owners and managers. If you are not the principle decision-maker for your business, this workshop is not for you.)
- Personally, I think this presentation has the most long-term value to transforming your business but not necessarily the most ready-to-use tools and tips for quick changes to your business. What is your horizon? How long do you hope to be in business? If it is a long time then you need a good map. The Character Diamond is the best map you’ll ever find.
- How Ads Work - Parts 1 & 2 (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour each or combined as a 2 hour presentation)
Traditional advertising is not dead. It still moves the needle for businesses that use it the right way. But most businesses do it wrong because they do not know how ads work.
Part 1 focuses on the different mediums from newsprint to broadcast to direct mail to websites. You will learn how each medium works, its strengths and weaknesses, and how to plan a campaign to get the most benefit from the medium you choose. As a bonus you will also learn some of the biggest myths advertising salespeople do not want you to know.
Part 2 teaches you the power of your message. The right message is always more important than the right medium. In this presentation you will get real examples of ads that make a connection and move people to action. You will get practical advice on how to craft your message to make it more impactful and memorable.
When you know how to craft a powerful message and use your advertising mediums the right way you will have the recipe for making your ads work to grow your business.
- If you are spending $10,000 or more on traditional advertising, you need this presentation to help you get the return on that investment that you deserve.
- Main Street Marketing on a Shoestring Budget (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour)
You don’t need a huge advertising budget to successfully market your business. But you do need techniques for drawing customers to your business in droves without discounting your goods or breaking the bank. This presentation will give you seven methods of drawing customers to your store that are proven to work without costing a ton of money. When you are done, you will have tools can use right away to begin growing your traffic.
- This has been one of my most popular presentations. I have presented this to many communities all over Michigan and beyond.
(Also available: Baby Store Marketing on a Shoestring Budget and Non-Profit Marketing on a Shoestring Budget)
GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE
- Customer Service: From Weak to WOW! (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour)
Every store thinks they have great customer service, yet every person in America has had lousy customer service… probably within the last week! This presentation will help you identify the difference between weak customer service and the kind of service that makes your customers go WOW! By the time you are done you will know exactly what you need to do to get customers to rave about you to their friends and, better yet, bring those friends back to you store.
- When I first developed this presentation I looked at my own staff and said, “Boy, we still have some work to do.” Great Customer Service is easy, but all it gets you is a “thanks” in return. Getting to the next level is not as hard as you think, but you have to change the way you think to get there. I did and so did my staff and it has paid off!
- Hiring and the Potter’s Wheel:
Turning Your Staff into a Work of Art (Show/Hide Details)
(30 - 45 Minutes)
When I first started hiring for my store I was lousy. For every great hire I made, two or three just did not work out. I read every book on hiring I could and I still got the same results. I knew there had to be a better way to hire and train my staff. I found it when I quit reading business books and started studying art.
A potter creates a piece of art that is not only beautiful, but strong, long-lasting and useful. You can make your staff strong, long-lasting, and useful when you follow the same steps as the potter. This presentation, based on my highly-acclaimed book, will show you how the steps of the potter apply to hiring and training. In short time you will be able to turn your staff into a masterpiece.
When we are done you will have the perfect template for finding and training the best retail staff.
- The book is great and fun to read. The presentation, however, brings the principles of the book to life and shows you how to apply them specifically to your business.
- Staff Meetings Everyone Wants to Attend (Show/Hide Details)
(Presentation 30 min, Workshop version 1 hour)
Most staff meetings are boring. Yet the most successful companies have meetings all the time. What do they know that you don’t? They know how to plan and run meetings that the staff wants to attend. This presentation will show you a step-by-step method that will transform your meetings from snoozers into celebrations of productivity.
Want more than a presentation? Sign up for the Workshop version and not only will you learn the techniques, you will create your own customized staff meeting on the topic of your choice.
- In the workshop I can accommodate up to eight different groups working on staff meeting planning at the same time which will give your organization a library of eight pre-planned ready-to-go meetings. Talk about a valuable resource.
(Combine this with the Hiring presentation and you have a recipe for getting and keeping the best retail staff in your area.)
GREAT PRODUCTS
- Inventory Management:
Cash is King and You are the Advisor (Show/Hide Details)
(1.5 hours)
Without cash your business falls apart. This presentation will show you not only where your cash is, but how to get more of it! Topics include the two most important equations every retailer should calculate, how Open-to-Buys work, and simple tips and techniques that will increase your cash flow while keeping your store stocked for business.
- Whether you are a savvy retailer with powerful computer metrics or a mom & pop entrepreneur with little math background, I have designed this presentation to meet all of your needs with lessons every buyer, novice to veteran, can learn and use.
- Pricing for Profit:
How to Raise Prices and Sell More at the Same Time (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour)
Most retailers are leaving thousands of dollars on the table each year because they do not understand how price influences shoppers. Hint: it isn’t always the lowest price that wins. This presentation will show you how to raise your prices and sell more products at the same time by understanding how customers perceive prices and calculate the value of an item. When we are done you will be armed with tools to increase your profit margin right away.
- By far the most highly acclaimed presentation I have ever done! Most retailers are still talking to me about it years after seeing it for the first time. If you plan this talk for a trade show event, do it before the buyers hit the trade show floor and it will be the most talked about presentation your group has ever had!
GREAT RETAILERS
- Retail Success Academy (Show/Hide Details)
(2 days)
This is the granddaddy of them all. Two full days of learning how to set up your retail operations on a solid foundation. The presentation includes most of the segments above and a few segments only available in this format.
Day One will focus on marketing and advertising including the presentations Understanding Your Brand, How Ads Work Parts 1 & 2, and Main Street Marketing on a Shoestring Budget. You will create a Character Diamond to help guide every aspect of your business. The day ends with a quick layman’s version of your Financials including how to read the two most important accounting documents, the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss.
Day Two will cover everything from Inventory Management including a smarter, more intuitive way to run your Open-to-Buy, and the highly acclaimed Pricing for Profit. You will learn everything you need to know to keep your cash flow humming. The afternoon will focus on every aspect of Customer Service including how to hire and train the best retail staff ever.
At the end of the second day you will have the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in retailing, be loaded with tips and ideas to re-energize your store, and be able to set up a foundation for your business that can survive some of the toughest economic dips and hiccups along the way.
- My only fear in this presentation is overload. There is so much great stuff packed into two days that a lesser person might walk away paralyzed. But as a true entrepreneur you will walk away energized and armed with all the tools you need to be wildly successful.
Other topics audiences have enjoyed:
- Kids Getting Older Younger (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour)
Kids seem to be growing up faster, or as some psychologists put it, getting older younger. What is the root cause? Some people blame the toys. Some people blame the electronics. Others blame the media. In this presentation I walk you through all the potential causes of this phenomenon and show you how to slow it down for your own children. Childhood is meant to be enjoyed at a natural pace.
- No, I’m not a childcare worker, social worker, or psychologist. But I do have over thirty years working with the youth market and have seen and read enough to know how to recognize the trends and what causes them.
- Becoming a New Dad:
What Every Expectant Father Should Know (Show/Hide Details)
(2 hours)
You tell your friends your wife is pregnant. They tell you your life is going to change. Then they laugh and walk away. This presentation is just for guys about to become dads. In it, we will discuss those changes, what is going to happen, and what you can do about it. We will also discuss your fears and concerns and give you some tools that will not only make you a better father, but also a better husband.
Knowledge is power and this presentation packs a lot of knowledge into two hours.
- I have been teaching this class twice a month at our local hospital since 2003. It is my favorite presentation because of the difference I know it will make in many young dads’ lives. Many have come up to me years later to thank me for the information. Even the ladies – who never get to see the presentation – often call with praise and thanks for the information and motivation.
- The Family That Plays Together Stays Together:
Strengthening Marriage Through Play (Show/Hide Details)
(30 minutes)
They say laughter is the best medicine. Not only does it make you better, it makes your whole family better. This fun presentation will have you laughing, smiling and understanding why play is one four-letter word your whole family should know.
- I first gave this presentation for Marriage Matters of Jackson at a luncheon in a local coffeehouse. Pretty soon the entire staff and patrons of the coffeehouse had gathered around to hear what we were all laughing about.
- Smart Toy Shopping (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour)
Yes, the toys you buy for your kids does make a difference. It makes a difference in your pocketbook and more importantly a difference in the minds of your children. In this presentation you will learn how to measure the true cost of a toy, how to pick a toy that matches your child’s preferred way to play, and how to get the most out of your toy budget. When you know how to evaluate toys, you will always pick winners that will be cherished by your children forever.
- Although the toys have changed, the concepts of play value have not. This is the original program that my grandfather was teaching to mothers groups in the 1950’s.
- Shopping for Baby 101 (Show/Hide Details)
(1 hour per session)
High Chairs, Feeding & Accessories
Before you buy a breast pump you need to know which one fits your lifestyle. This class covers everything from bottles & sippy cups to high chairs and diaper pails. If it involves nursing or feeding, I’m going to cover it in a way that will make you an instant expert.
Cribs, Dressers & Rockers
This presentation helps you understand the different levels of safety and quality in cribs and mattresses and how to evaluate nursery furniture. You will learn how wood types can affect your bottom line, the reason why some dressers last longer than others, and the pros and cons of convertible cribs. Plus, you will learn the two most important questions you need to ask before buying a glider rocker.
Car Seats & Strollers
This presentation covers your current Car Seat Safety Laws. You will learn what actually happens in a crash and see why not all car seats are made the same—including some you should avoid. Plus, you will learn the three questions every parent needs to answer to make sure you have the right seat for your child. You will also learn why strollers are the hardest item for most parents to choose and get tips to make that decision easier.
- Stop into Toy House on the second Friday of the month at 7pm and you can sit in on one of these sessions for FREE. Plus, you could win valuable prizes.
- Christian Music (Show/Hide Details)
(no limit)
You might not know that I am a guitar-playing singer/songwriter. I’m might not be the most talented singer or guitar player you will ever see, but I can hold a tune, captivate an audience, and, more importantly, pass along a message of faith, hope and love. I play mostly originals with a handful of popular contemporary hymns thrown in for good measure. Like my other presentations, I will make you smile, laugh, think, and believe.
My goal is your success. If your business has a particular challenge that I can address. I’ll design a presentation just for you.
Here's what audiences and show organizers are saying...
"Phil Wrzesinski is a top notch speaker. He brought handouts that were informative, interesting and had quality content that our attendees raved about. Whether it was an evening reception or a morning workshop, our attendees listened, learned and truly enjoyed Phil's insight, statistics and helpful hints about the industry. We hope to have him back!" - Diane Dwyer - Trade Show Manager, Madavor Media, IDEX January 2009
"Not only does Phil Wrzesinski know his subject matter and have a wonderful way of getting it across (he’s an audience favorite!), he is incredible to work with - - professional, friendly, organized, responsible, and accommodating - - all the things one looks for in a speaker, but seldom get!" - Christine Pauley, Exhibit & Education Coordinator, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
"Worth the price and expense of entire convention. Single best ASTRA presentation ever - pragmatic, action-oriented! Will implement every one of the recommendations the day I get back from convention." - Pricing for Profit, American Specialty Toy Retailers Association Conference, June 2008
"Great information - very specific to our stores. Wonderful to have presenters who have been running their own stores for so long. Very relevant and easy to implement right away." - Pricing for Profit, American Specialty Toy Retailers Association Conference, June 2008
"Phil is a fabulous presenter with great information and real life examples." - How Ads Work, Jackson Retail Success Academy, May 2008
"This was the best presentation yet!" - How Ads Work, Jackson Retail Success Academy, May 2008
"Great thought provoking class work that has a real relation to sales." - How Ads Work, Jackson Retail Success Academy, May 2008
"[Phil's] tips paid off immediately at our next staff meeting." - Staff Meetings that Everyone Wants to Attend, Midtown Association, April 2008
Contact me directly at phil@philsforum.com to energize your next meeting!
