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Small Biz Survival

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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Two musicians play guitar while seated on the sidewalk outside a brick storefront during a community event, with pedestrians stopped to listen and watch
    big company | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | shop local | trends

    Small town marketing secret: Have something to invite people to

    ByBecky McCray February 24, 2026February 24, 2026

    People need a compelling reason to leave their homes and come experience your business with you. This feels like a very heavy lift. . You’re supposed to be exciting enough to pull people away from their phones, their families and the comfort of online shopping. You’re competing with everything else demanding their attention. Here’s the…

    Read More Small town marketing secret: Have something to invite people toContinue

  • A loyalty card from Millie Coffee
    customer service | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural

    Use your loyalty card as your business card

    ByBecky McCray December 15, 2025

    At the LaunchRuralOK Small Business Resource event in Alva, I overheard the owner of Millie Coffee from Fairview, Oklahoma, talking to a service provider she wanted to work with. She  apologized for not having business cards with her, then handed over her shop’s loyalty card instead. I looked over my shoulder and said out loud,…

    Read More Use your loyalty card as your business cardContinue

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

    Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator

    ByBecky McCray June 26, 2025June 25, 2025

    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…

    Read More Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubatorContinue

  • A building used as business storage with an old faded sign that says "Carrier Air Conditioning"
    economic development | mistakes | rural

    Using a building as a warehouse or storage in a small town? Put up a sign

    ByBecky McCray March 13, 2023

    Repurposing empty buildings as business storage or a warehouse is a common small business practice in small towns. Putting up a sign is a good idea for at least two reasons.  Retail businesses may be storing extra merchandise. Manufacturers might have extra materials or finished product ready to ship. Service and repair companies have to…

    Read More Using a building as a warehouse or storage in a small town? Put up a signContinue

  • Using events to promote service and industry businesses
    entrepreneurship | marketing | rural

    Using events to promote service and industry businesses

    ByDeb Brown September 11, 2019September 9, 2019

    Events that showcase your non-retail small business  You want people to learn about your business. Events sometimes help with that. You’re just not sure how to create an event for non-retail businesses that people will come to. Who goes to the insurance agency if they don’t need insurance? Who goes to the packing plant unless…

    Read More Using events to promote service and industry businessesContinue

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