2026 Profitability Master Class

The Profitability Master Class starts on Monday, March 12 at 12 pm ET/ 11 am CT/ 10 am MT / 9 am PT. 

The course has 8 sessions and runs through June 1, 2026. 

To find out more about the course, visit our website or download the syllabus

Welcome to our new 8-session master class on Profitability, led by Erin Matthews of The Last Word in Mt. Airy, MD. We'll be teaching diverse strategies for increasing income, decreasing expenses, and improving margin. This master class is hands-on; each session will include actionable weekly steps designed to be implemented and measured over the eight weeks of the course. Students will be working on changes within their stores, then returning to reflect and discuss with peers and instructors.

Each meeting is 90 minutes and contains a mix of instruction and independent work time (aka study hall) to allow students to put what they learn to immediate action.

How the Course Works

This master class is a learn/practice/reflect/refine model, with "study  hall" time built into each session to begin to make changes at your store. 

Live classes meet via Zoom. The course uses Discord as our platform for information, chat, and homework. Discord is free to join, and an invitation will be emailed to students after registrations.  Students also receive a weekly newsletters with information about the classes.

Topics include:

• Terms, Tools & Resources
• Passive Income
• Inventory Mix
• Increasing Impulse Sales
• Calculating Your Break Even Number
• Negotiating Rates and Discounts
• Returns
• Novel Income Streams
• Bulk/Pre-Pay Accounts
• Outsourcing
• Profit First
• Using Promos
• Co-op
• Diversifying Inventory
• Creating and Planning for Long-Term Goals
• Building Safety Nets