I grew up in a small town in Maine, but I don’t think of myself as a small-town guy. My parents were involved in local community service groups. My Dad was the Cub Scout leader, a member of the Jaycees and the Elks club. And I remember helping him and other volunteers build a kiddie […]
Caring is a small town business advantage
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 […]
Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator
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 […]
Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?
“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 […]
