What Will The Great Game of Business Do for Your Company

What The Great Game of Business offers is a new way of doing business. While it is a novel idea to many, the open-book approach to operating a business was pioneered in 1983 (and later formalized as The Great Game of Business). It was developed as a creative solution to saving a failing company, and the result of the experiment was dramatic.

Using the open-book methodology, SRC Holdings Corporation in Springfield, Missouri, made a complete turnaround, producing $600 million in annual sales and increasing share value from 10 cents to over $612.

In the process, it established itself as one of the most competitive companies in its industry. The Great Game of Business was formed out of this experience and is now used successfully to share these insights with other companies, whether they are looking to overcome challenges, accelerate growth, or just improve their organization’s culture by increasing employee engagement.

Your Trusted Partner for Sustainable Growth

Our experts in The Great Game of Business act as your partner and guide on the path to steady, sustainable growth for your organization. We do this by sharing our insights through learning resources, e-learning courses, free educational web content, and on-site training, conferences, and business coaching sessions.

Through the years, The Great Game of Business has delivered results for everything from small mom-and-pop shops to high-profile companies, such as Southwest Airlines and New Belgium Brewing Company.

Impressive Results Across a Wide Range of Markets and Industries

Below is just a sampling of the positive outcomes we’ve collaborated with companies to produce. Every company’s situation is unique, but these results speak loudly about the ability of The Great Game of Business to help companies achieve outstanding improvement in their operations and revenue.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks

22% increase in money raised
17% more life-changing friendships between Bigs and Littles

New Belgium Brewing Company

Became 4th largest craft brewery in U.S. and 8th largest overall
Best for the World Sustainability Award
2016 Distributor of the Year

Amy’s Ice Creams

250% income increase
150% net income increase

Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers

Broke 39-year revenue record

Fresno First Bank

Turned a loss of $2.2 million in 2008 into a positive net income result of more than $3.3 million before tax in 2014

Goodall Homes

Growing 20% to 40% every year since 2010, including a 52% year-over-year jump in profits in 2014

Induction Heat Treating Corp.

First year net profit up 9%
Second year net profit up 6%

AEP SWEPCO Pirkey Power Plant

Achieved highest gross profit in operating history

Stalcop, LLC

Cost savings of more than $740,000
Turned earning loss of $1.3 million to a profit of $1.2 million the next year

Be Found Online

Year-over-year profits up more than 100%
Lowest employee turnover in company history
More customers than ever signing up and renewing contracts

Mid America Metals

Historically high gross margin
Record-breaking sales
24% profit increase

Greene County Missouri

Stable cash balance and best financial health in years
Able to give employees first cost-of-living raise in 6 years

West Paw Design

626% profit increase from 2012 to 2013
Revenue up 20%
“Best for the World: Environmental Impact” award
Bozeman Employer of Choice award for best places to work

Kiolbassa Provision Company

17% average sales growth per year
$375,000 in cost savings
$1.3 million improvement in gross profits
Total credits and returns dropped 63%

Jenner Sales Corp.

10% annual growth rate
Has paid out more than $1.6 million in cash and 401(k) contributions
Consistently receives 4.3–4.5 out of 5 on employee satisfaction survey

Willoway Nurseries

7% decrease in annual budget costs

Wall-Tech

Income grew from $294,504 to $1.1 million in 2 years
Able to pay quarterly bonuses for the very first quarter of playing The Game

O’Connells OBM

Profits increased 34% in 2012 and 10% in 2013
Highest employee engagement results since 2006

Tasty Catering

Employee turnover is less than 2% in an industry where 50% is the norm
Sales up 6.6%
Profits up 75%
Named Psychologically Healthiest Workplace by American Psychological Association twice
98% employee engagement score

Texas Air Composites

Performance Excellence Award for customer service
Revenue has increased an average of 89% each year since 2001
33% improvement in revenue per direct labor hours
$300,000 saved in variable overhead cost in a year

Van Belle Nursery

$200,000 saved in first year of playing The Game
Average annual revenue growth rate of 10%
Revenue per hour worked increased 30%
Hasn’t had an associate quit in close to 8 years

US Tower Services

Associates have cut time spent on projects by close to half
Since 2004, have expanded from 8 associates to 50

Argent Tape & Label

Revenue increased from $821,000 to $4.4 million in 4 years
Generated 75 cost-saving ideas to save company $44,000

National Center for Employee Ownership

Revenues up an astounding 220,000% in 2010
Has earned a profit every one of the 26 years it’s been playing The Game
Has regularly provided $15,000 to $30,000 in year-end bonuses

Pizza Gallery & Grill

Paid off $170,000 in long-term debt in just 14 months
Reduced error rates from 3% to 1% in 9 months
Revenue grew 9% and profits 7% in 2010 despite fewest customers since 2006
Average customer spend increased $0.30 in initial 3 weeks

Clarke EyeCare Center

Year-over-year profits up 60%
Cost of goods sold are 20% lower
Able to give employees a 6% pay bonus
Revenue has increased 21%

Enercon Services, Inc.

Stock price has increased more than 10 fold over past 15 years
12% boost in revenue
40% jump in profits
Ranking in top 25 in Power Engineering
Ranking in top 200 in Environmental by Engineering News-Record

Comfort Supply

Grew by 38% in one year
Financial literacy rate of employees at all-time high

Laron Incorporated

Doubled revenue in 2008

Kindermusik International

Revenue increase of 3% in first year of playing The Game

Jim’s Formal Wear

Revenue increase of 134%
Annual volume doubled
Virtually debt free
Net income increased 43%

NewStream Enterprises

Revenue increase of 48%
Cash distribution up 180%

Integrity Technology Solutions

Cut $11,000 in monthly expenses
Able to offer employees a 401(k) match
7.6 return on sales rate

Sun Design

Profits surged 400% in 2010
Turned an operating loss of $102,000 to an operating income of $218,000 in one year

Destination Harley Davidson

In 9 years, sales shot up to $40 million
Ranked #1 in customer satisfaction for the fifth consecutive year
2003 Promoter and Retail Merchandiser of the Year
Quarterly service hours billed increased by 8.5%

Whole Foods Market

20% average annual sales growth rates
Expanded workforce from 10,000 to 39,000
Store count grew from 70 to 185

Zingerman’s Community of Businesses

Grew annual revenue $39 million over a decade

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Grew by 95% in 2005, 131% in 2004, and 64% in 2003
Ranked #5 on Franchise Business Review’s “Franchise 50” list
Increased number of franchises by 429 in 3 years

Stellar Call Centre Solutions

Averaged over 20% revenue growth per year since 2004
Employee count doubled
Over 90% increase in business literacy rate of employees

Springfield Spring

Sales per employee has increased by 53%
Bonus pool has grown by almost 20% per year for 3 years

Meadows Regional Medical Center

Year-over-year revenue growth reached 33% in 2013 after averaging 18% the prior 5 years
Rated a top hospital in superior patient satisfaction grades

Agape Construction Company

For the first time in 6 years, debt free and able to grow cash reserves
Profits grew 7% in 2 years
Have been able to pledge 10% of net income to charities

Hilcorp Energy Company

Have grown more than 160% with annual average growth of over 4%
Workforce has grown 10% annually for the past 3 years
Over the past 3 years, share the wealth bonuses average 34% of an employee's base salary

Woodward Printing Services

21.5% increase in profitability despite 6.4% drop in total revenue
Return on sales increased from 4.7% to 6.1%
Offered a $20,000 bonus pool to employees
Shaved its contracted labor expenses by $25,000 and decreased overtime costs by $57,500
Dramatic reduction in the number of negative comments

Paul Mueller Company

Turned $4.8 million in domestic pre-tax operating losses into $1.9 million positive operating income
Revenues rebounded from $75 million to $122 million in two years

Federal Companies

Annual growth averaged 5% during first 4 years of The Game
Profit grew more than 500% in the 4 years following launch
MiniGames™ helped cut claims and costs by 13% and 48% respectively
Workers’ comp costs fell by 76%

Chuck Latham Associates

22% sales growth
Acquired 2 companies to meet diversification goals
Hired 860 employees as competitors failed

Ginger Bay Salon & Spa

Traffic up 1.8%
Retail sales increased 11%

Anthony Wilder Build/Design Inc.

Profitability increased from 5% to 18%
Cut monthly office costs by 25%
Conversion rate increased 20%
80% of business now comes from existing customer referrals
Won 13 awards for design and construction projects

The Booksource

Revenues grew from $33.5 million to $49.6 million in 2 years
80% associate retention in 3 years
36 of 40 new hires referred by current employees
40% surge in revenues
First-ever positive cash balance
Received City of St. Louis Spirit Award, AAIM Employer of the Year, Regional Commerce and Growth Association’s Top 50 and recognition by Inc. Magazine for its workplace

McGinnis Sisters Special Good Stores