• Survey
  • Book Becky to speak
  • The book: Small Town Rules
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

Four ways to beat bigger competitors

By Becky McCray

How can your small town business take on the bigger competitors? Whether you’re facing the big boxes, the big city shopping, or the online big boys, you can try these four ways to beat them back.

Hutch 261
  1. Tell your human story. Your business came from somewhere, was founded by someone, touches real people. When you tell your story, you build relationships.
  2. Your culture and place matter. You have a better connection with what your people want, how they like to be treated, and what touches their emotions than any big company can.
  3. When you have a competitive or better price, hammer on it. You have to overcome people’s perception that small town businesses have higher prices. It doesn’t have to be on every single thing, but I’ll bet you can be competitive on many prices. Plus, you may represent a better value because of what all you add. Make sure you show people.
  4. When you have better quality, tell that story. This is where people’s perceptions work in your favor. The general perception about quality at big companies isn’t good. Take advantage of it.

You can tell these stories in your ads, in your online presences, in signs and displays, and most importantly by making sure all your people know and share them, too.

New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Downtown is your town’s core: How to make your case - February 22, 2021
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020

February 8, 2010 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, rural

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Comments

  1. madhusudanrao says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    As a small scale industry ,one will have low operating costs,flexibility in decision makings,speedy decision and ability to give credit to reliable parties.These facilities are not usually enjoyed by big corporate houses,who in turn may be a big competitor for your business.In the present days the basic principle will be ability to supply quality goods at lower rates.Development of own Brand is very much necessary.For this purpose ,the unit should be able to store huge volume of stocks when the prices are low and release them when the prices go up.Another way is to purchase when there is margin or raw material conversion to finished product margin.As far as possible risk of any kind is to be avoided by having adequate risk coverage policies.Physical cash handling should be avoided and as far possible online cash transfers have to be adopted.The organisation should maintain cordial and ethical relations with both suppliers and buyers.In case of worst business situations application of humanity is essential.long term relation is more important than short term gains.However these are not exhaustive but only illustrative to compete with big competitors

  2. David Brooks says

    February 10, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    Excellent tips. We would add another: support each other. You’ll benefit from the personal service of people you know, and they are likely to return the favor. In other words, we scratch each other’s backs.

    Our firm focuses on the accounting, tax, and business consulting needs of family business owners. We have heard from some of them that larger firms shunted them off to junior staff. So they did no get the benefit of the senior partners’ experience and expertise. Family business owners are our bread and butter, so they get the full attention of our firm from the top down. We also have the flexibility to customize our services to the exact needs of each business owner.

  3. Becky McCray says

    February 10, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Madhusudanrao, thanks for adding. I can’t agree about stockpiling a huge volume of product because price is down. That in itself is a huge risk. I can agree absolutely about being cordial and human with your suppliers and buyers.

    David, you’ve made an excellent point. We do have to support our fellow small businesses for us all to succeed.

  4. Purchase Order Financing Blog says

    February 12, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    How about using service as a advantage? And a big one.

    Some months ago I needed paint for my house. I went to he local big box store and got a blah experience. Sure, helpgul, but the fella I spoke to was no expert…..

    Then I went to a small paint store that’s close by, where I got lots of advice and spoke to someone who knew what he was talking about.

    Sure, they were more expensive but they also knew what they were talking about and inspired more confidence.

    –Marco

  5. Becky McCray says

    February 12, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Marco, I cannot believe I didn’t include that! You are absolutely right.

Trackbacks

  1. Holiday retail ideas says:
    March 21, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    […] those up against the big boxes and the online competitors, review these four ways to beat bigger competitors. They are especially relevant in the […]

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2021 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in