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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • failure | success

    Failure Quote: Go from failure to failure

    ByBecky McCray April 6, 2007August 27, 2014

    “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm”Winston Churchill We are fascinated by quotes and stories of failure; we have a whole series on it. New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

    Read More Failure Quote: Go from failure to failureContinue

  • customer service | marketing

    Video: Helping customers pick a product

    ByBecky McCray April 4, 2007August 27, 2014

    Click to Play In a product based business, it can be tough to pull together items from many different manufacturers. To help customers make easier buying decisions, Becky McCray recommends three tips: Simplify Standardize Add ratings New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

    Read More Video: Helping customers pick a productContinue

  • economic development | resources

    How to revitalize your downtown and fill vacant properties

    ByBecky McCray April 3, 2007August 27, 2014

    A common theme in many small towns is vacant business properties and struggling downtown areas. Revitalizing them takes a long-term effort by many different groups and individuals. Suzanne Morse, in the Smart Communities blog, has some resources for vacant property projects. New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

    Read More How to revitalize your downtown and fill vacant propertiesContinue

  • economic development | entrepreneurship | rural

    Rural revitalization needs comprehensive approach

    ByBecky McCray April 2, 2007August 27, 2014

    It takes a comprehensive approach – don’t work alone! From Lancaster Farming. A new, place-based approach to rural policy is needed, according to “Strengthening Rural Pennsylvania: An Integrated Approach to a Prosperous Commonwealth,” by the Brookings Institution in collaboration with Penn State, the Pennsylvania Economy League, and the Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania. “We have never…

    Read More Rural revitalization needs comprehensive approachContinue

  • rural

    How to grow the market for your local food business

    ByBecky McCray April 2, 2007August 27, 2014

    Lots of small town small businesses are food related. Think farms, wineries, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, local restaurants, and all those homemade salsas, pickles, and barbecue sauces. Together, these businesses can promote themselves as an entire region of delicious experiences. Our Friend Jack Schultz found a local food guide and an artisan bread festival. You…

    Read More How to grow the market for your local food businessContinue

  • entrepreneurship | marketing | POV

    POV: Stop advertising, go referrals only

    ByBecky McCray March 29, 2007August 27, 2014

    Exclusivity is a terrific motivator for your customers. Reader Robert Ellis is taking full advantage of that with his tax firm. He is not advertising, not accepting any new walk in clients, not keeping pain in the neck clients, and only taking referrals from existing clients. And the firm is growing. Read about his Liberating…

    Read More POV: Stop advertising, go referrals onlyContinue

  • global | ideas | marketing

    How to start a small import firm: learn from others

    ByBecky McCray March 29, 2007August 27, 2014

    Remember Nairobi Paul’s business idea of importing Kenyan handicrafts to the USA? He (and you) could get started by talking to someone successfully importing from the developing world, like Kristen Evans. Evans is importing crafts from Bolivia, like the angel pictured to the right. She’s succeeding in spite of increasing political difficulties and the constant…

    Read More How to start a small import firm: learn from othersContinue

  • rural

    Is it right to give rural special advantages?

    ByBecky McCray March 29, 2007August 27, 2014

    Small business people in rural areas and small towns often feel overlooked. Here’s a roundup of some recent rural-urban conflict news stories. What’s the right way to divide transportation dollars between rural and urban? Should you go by road miles or by people? Rural areas have more road miles, but urban areas have more people….

    Read More Is it right to give rural special advantages?Continue

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