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Caring is a small town business advantage

By Small Biz Survival

A woman smiling at the camera while standing in front of a clothing rack

By Stephanie Ward, Firefly Coaching Caring isn’t something you can do if you’re only using it as a tactic. You can’t fake caring, either you do or you don’t. The good news is that we all have the capacity to care. It’s a state of being that you can tap into, just like gratitude. We […]

October 2, 2025 Filed Under: customer service, entrepreneurship, rural Tagged With: customer service, entrepreneurship, guest post

Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator

By Becky McCray

Clothing displayed on one wall, with a salon in the back.

Are you starting a business that could use retail space, but you can’t justify renting a storefront? Find a tiny space inside another business that can be your incubator. Who could display This can work for all kinds of physical-display businesses: Artists Crafts Authors Resellers Photographers Shelf stable foods and beverages Small manufacturers Agri-products like […]

June 26, 2025 Filed Under: rural Tagged With: economic development, entrepreneurship, experience economy, non-retail, retail, service businesses, shop small, small business

Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?

By Becky McCray

Newspaper ad featuring three small businesses.

“I want to start up a new business in town which will compete with an existing one. I believe there are enough customers for both of us. Should I talk to the business owner about my intentions before I start?” That’s the real-world concern from a reader. In small towns, we think about things like […]

June 2, 2025 Filed Under: rural

From Finance to Creativity: A Journey to Building an Experience-Based Business in Bellefontaine

By Jamie Beasley

A young girl carefully pours her own candle.

In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the journey to rediscovering creativity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. This is the story of one such entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate finance job to creating a vibrant experience-based business in downtown Bellefontaine. […]

April 7, 2025 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, rural, success, trends Tagged With: building a business, entrepreneurship, events, experience economy, retail, rural, shop indie local, shop local, shop small, small business success, take small steps

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