The “shop local, shop independent” message is starting to get through. More shoppers say they prefer small local stores over big boxes, according to the Deluxe Annual Holiday Shopping Survey. What can a small town do to keep the momentum alive through the last of the holiday shopping season? Join with other small towns and…
One thing small town businesses often need help with is getting clear on who they are and what they do. I see retail businesses that can’t tell you why they are any better than an online store, professionals and consultants who can’t tell you exactly what they do, and service providers who target “everyone!” My…
Rick Skorupski Interview Rick Skorupski Why would a retired Navy man, who loves boating and the Jersey Shore, move to South Dakota? Great question. Turns out, it’s because of the people, the culture and the cost of living. For Rick Skorupski, those reasons added up to more than enough to make him happy in his…
This article was contributed by Ball State University. When the aisles are packed and checkout lines are long, customers will shop at trusted retailers that place a premium on knowing their needs, says Ramon Avila, a marketing professor and the founding director of the H.H. Gregg Center for Professional Selling at Ball State University. He…
Homewood, Illinois, isn’t a big city. Their population of 19,000 makes them a bigger small town, and they are a suburb of Chicago. So this isn’t a tiny town. But they do have a great pop-up retail program going that any town could try out. Here’s the story from their email newsletter, by Paula J….
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 56 cents per mile for business miles driven 23.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations The business, medical, and moving…
For the first time, Shop Small Saturday is promoting local small businesses in the UK on December 7, 2013. The dedicated UK Small Business Saturday website offers an easy and quick download of digital marketing tools, like posters, logos, and suggested social media posts. There’s also a kit of printed posters, stands and badges you…
A bonus for you in Canada and around the globe, while the US is busy with family and Thanksgiving: an interview with Canadian entrepreneur Gregg McLachlan. MP3 download: Gregg McLachlan mini interview Gregg McLachlan built a nation-wide resource site in Canada from his cabin in the woods using dial-up internet access. He told me how in this…
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.
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.
We partner with campaigns and organizations that we think best benefit rural small businesses.
Copyright © 2006–2026 Becky McCray • Site by Webdancers