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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • rural

    Change

    December 26, 2018January 6, 2019

    The one consistent force facing all small business owners is that of change. As we prepare to enter a new year, it is not uncommon to take some time and think about things you would like to accomplish in 2019. The resolutions we lay out include those for our personal life but often those for…

    Read More ChangeContinue

  • Empty building ideas: Art gallery in the windows
    community | rural

    Empty building ideas: Art gallery in the windows

    December 24, 2018March 8, 2019

      Many small towns have a challenge of too many empty buildings or too many buildings used only for storage. In one small town, the problem was an existing store that was using a neighboring building for storage, but had nothing in the windows. In another town, it was a building used for storage by…

    Read More Empty building ideas: Art gallery in the windowsContinue

  • community | economic development | rural | trends

    The small town stereotype: Old White Guys in charge, stuck in the past

    December 22, 2018January 6, 2019

    I often hear jovial stories and stereotypes, in and out of rural places, about how small-town people are stuck in the 1960s and refuse to accept change. They joke that we nostalgically hang on to our traditions, our history, our ways of doing things, and our small-town values. Personally, I choose to live in a…

    Read More The small town stereotype: Old White Guys in charge, stuck in the pastContinue

  • Still life with basket of fruit by artist Paul Cezanne
    brag basket

    An impression of good news in the Brag Basket

    December 21, 2018January 6, 2019

      The Brag Basket is open! This one is for Dec 21-23, 2018. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you share in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week celebrate progress, even baby steps congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your…

    Read More An impression of good news in the Brag BasketContinue

  • How small towns can cut through the noise to communicate with residents during disasters
    community | POV | rural | survivors | tech

    How small towns can cut through the noise to communicate with residents during disasters

    December 17, 2018January 6, 2019

    Note: This is the second guest post by Whitney Hoffman. She’s sharing some thoughts about being ready for and recovering from disasters. -Becky Guest Post by Whitney Hoffman, Township Supervisor in Kennett Township PA Small towns across the Country are facing a Communications Crisis. We’re seeing contracting media markets, where hometown newspapers fold or go digital. TV…

    Read More How small towns can cut through the noise to communicate with residents during disastersContinue

  • Fine art painting of a still life with basket of fruit
    brag basket

    The fruits of your work in the Brag Basket

    December 14, 2018January 6, 2019

      The Brag Basket is open! This one is for Dec 14-16, 2018. Bring your good news, big or small, to share with everyone. What can you share in the Brag Basket? introduce yourself share some great news from this week celebrate progress, even baby steps congratulate a friend applaud for each other confess your…

    Read More The fruits of your work in the Brag BasketContinue

  • rural | Small Biz 100 | success

    Regular Customers Form Your Base

    December 12, 2018January 6, 2019

    Ask yourself: Who are your regular customers? What do they buy and why do they keep coming back? Who are the customers you no longer see? Why aren’t they returning? Why is it important that you can answer these two questions? It’s simple. Regular customers form the base of your business. And customers who have…

    Read More Regular Customers Form Your BaseContinue

  • Planning lessons every small town can learn from disaster
    community | POV | rural | survivors

    Planning lessons every small town can learn from disaster

    December 10, 2018January 6, 2019

    Note: This week and next week, I’m pleased to share these guest posts by Whitney Hoffman. She’s sharing some thoughts about being ready for and recovering from disasters. -Becky Guest post by Whitney Hoffman I’ve been a Township Supervisor in Kennett Township PA for over three years now. We’re located in what some people call…

    Read More Planning lessons every small town can learn from disasterContinue

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