• 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

Use Your Small-business Advantages

By Glenn Muske

Holder Drug

Holder Drug by Becky McCray via Flickr

When asked if they have any advantages as a small business, many owners respond negatively.

The fact is, small-business owners, especially those in rural areas and small towns, have many advantages they can use to enhance the success of their store.

Knowing the audience is a huge advantage. Yet they often do not make full use of this close audience connection.

Knowing the audience allows an owner to more completely understand the problems his or her client is having. It also should help develop brand advocates. They are people who, via words and actions, sell your store, products and services for you. They do this because of the trust that can be developed in such close relationships.

Local owners also can be very responsive to special needs. If the owner does not have an item a customer needs, the fix often can be found by checking with suppliers and using the myriad fast delivery opportunities that exist.

As business owners have noted, knowing their local audience allows targeting specific groups to keep them informed when products become available that you, the owner, know this person is interested in. What a marketing opportunity.

Another advantage of the local business owner is the ability to be nimble. Market changes and trends are easier to spot. With the ability to shift product mix quickly, the local business owner can lead the big retailer in being prepared to meet new demands.

The ability to be nimble comes from another advantage, that of having local decision makers. Seeing a trend and taking advantage of it requires someone on the scene who can execute a decision. The owner/manager has the freedom to make those decisions.

Local community involvement is a major opportunity for the small-business owner. Yes, they have a business to run, but often it is the local business people who are involved at the heart of various civic and charitable organizations. Money and donations are important, but they often give of their time.

Such civic and leadership involvement helps more deeply entrench the perceived value of the business, thus strengthening its brand.

Being successful as a small-business owner is a challenge. Small-business owners face a variety of competition and each has certain advantages.

 Yet being a small-business owner brings a set of advantages that creates real strength and opportunity. Put them in your toolbox and make full use of them in your business.

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Glenn Muske

Glenn Muske is an independent expert on rural small business, working as GM Consulting – Your partner in achieving small business success. He provides consulting, and writes articles for county extension agents and newspapers across North Dakota. Previously, he was the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality.
  • Change - December 26, 2018
  • Regular Customers Form Your Base - December 12, 2018
  • Disasters: Is Your Small Business Ready? - December 5, 2018
  • Business Startup: Steps to Remember - November 28, 2018
  • HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM SMALL BIZ SURVIVAL - November 21, 2018
  • Finding a Business Idea - November 14, 2018
  • Does Your Networking Have Punch? - November 7, 2018
  • Build Tomorrow’s Community Business Sector - October 24, 2018
  • Are You Changing? - October 17, 2018
  • Is it really a deal? - October 10, 2018

October 16, 2014 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, rural, Small Biz 100, success Tagged With: advantage, entrepreneur, planning, resources, small business, success

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!

Trackbacks

  1. Use Your Small-business Advantages - BizExcellent! says:
    October 17, 2014 at 10:47 am

    […] By Glenn Muske […]

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