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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • Experts say about Small Town Rules
    SmallTownRules

    Experts say about Small Town Rules

    January 15, 2022August 15, 2022

    Just bought Small Town Rules! God, I’ve been ANXIOUS for this book. Don’t buy it because I love Becky McCray and am friends with Barry Moltz. Don’t buy it because I said it’s a great book. Buy it because it will change your business. Chris Brogan NY Times Bestselling Author of Trust Agents Since Small Town Rules was…

    Read More Experts say about Small Town RulesContinue

  • Top 5 Rural and small town trends 2022
    community | economic development | entrepreneurship | POV | rural | trends

    Top 5 Rural and small town trends 2022

    January 3, 2022July 10, 2023

    Who knows what trends will affect small and rural communities in 2022 and beyond? Not many trends pieces cover rural places. These trends are specifically about rural and small towns. I’ve been following rural trends and writing about them since 2009. My trends reports have been commissioned or quoted by Main Street America, Emergent Research, the…

    Read More Top 5 Rural and small town trends 2022Continue

  • Small Steps with kettle corn
    entrepreneurship | planning | rural | youth

    How to start a real small small business

    December 17, 2021

      Your fellow reader Ava asked a great question: If I am already working, in school, and wanting to start up just a real small small business, then how would that work differently from someone who is coming from a completely different stand point, like not working or in school and is just generally starting…

    Read More How to start a real small small businessContinue

  • Tip for better pop-ups and shed businesses
    economic development | mistakes | rural

    Tip for better pop-ups and shed businesses

    December 5, 2021September 6, 2024

    Basics What is a pop-up? I explain more here. Tip #1: Group your pop-ups When you’re planning to add pop-up businesses or shed businesses to your small or rural community, concentrate them in one area. Better to have four sheds or pop up businesses together on a single lot, than fourteen vendors spread out all…

    Read More Tip for better pop-ups and shed businessesContinue

  • Small town business idea: cat grooming
    entrepreneurship | ideas | rural

    Small town business idea: cat grooming

    November 15, 2021November 16, 2021

    This was a new idea to me. Alyssa McCleery from Newkirk, Oklahoma, brought this up. She has local dog grooming but had to drive hours to find a place to get her cat groomed. I was skeptical at first, but why not cat grooming as a service? Just trimming cat claws can be a challenge….

    Read More Small town business idea: cat groomingContinue

  • Shoppers at a furniture store find temporary displays of jewelry and skin care products.
    economic development | entrepreneurship | ideas | rural

    Boost your rural retail business with this trick

    November 5, 2021October 30, 2021

    By Deb Brown The old way of doing business is one building, one business. What if you could test an idea and have a business inside a business? Anyone of us either knows or can find someone who is making things from their home and selling it. What if you encouraged already existing home-based businesses…

    Read More Boost your rural retail business with this trickContinue

  • Mechanic wiping down a wrench
    community | economic development | rural

    The Role of Public Policy in Rural Community Economic Development

    October 16, 2021October 13, 2021

    By Paula Jensen My husband is a mechanic. The tools of his trade are important to his work. He has a large toolbox with many drawers lined in soft black padding. His tools lay clean and organized inside each drawer for easy access when he needs the right tool for a job. Yet, when things…

    Read More The Role of Public Policy in Rural Community Economic DevelopmentContinue

  • Community engagement planning: old way vs. Idea Friendly way
    community | economic development | mistakes | planning | rural

    Community engagement planning: old way vs. Idea Friendly way

    October 3, 2021October 1, 2021

    You’re familiar with the traditional way of handling community engagement. Once every few years, an outside consultant comes in and leads a community engagement planning meeting. There are lots of flip charts and post it notes.  Most of the people who attend hold official titles or formal leadership roles. Almost all are professional middle class…

    Read More Community engagement planning: old way vs. Idea Friendly wayContinue

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The Best of Small Biz Survival

TREND 2025: Retail’s Big Split: what small town retailers can do now

Posted on December 11, 2024

99% of the best things you can do for your town don’t require anyone’s permission

Posted on January 2, 2024

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

Posted on August 28, 2023

How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores

Posted on February 19, 2023

Read more of the Best of Small Biz Survival

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