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Small Biz Survival
  • 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops, and what we're all going to do about them.
    mistakes

    Weakness 4. High Prices

    November 4, 2013September 28, 2015

    The 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops And what we’re all going to do about them. As we head into the busy holiday shopping season, we’ll see lots of Shop Local messages working to get customers to think about shifting their shopping more to local stores. I want to add another layer, and get…

    Read More Weakness 4. High PricesContinue

  • Mobile hot dog vendor accepts a credit card payment with a Square reader.
    Best of | entrepreneurship | tools

    Alternative ways to take credit cards. Ditch your merchant account!

    October 29, 2013December 16, 2021

      Taking credit cards used to be a big deal for small businesses. It involved setting up a merchant account, passing a credit check, leasing or buying equipment and agreeing to a multi-year commitment. That was just the getting started part. The traditional merchant processing industry standard seemed to be lots of fees, and little…

    Read More Alternative ways to take credit cards. Ditch your merchant account!Continue

  • 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops, and what we're all going to do about them.
    entrepreneurship | mistakes

    Weakness 3. Limited Selection

    October 28, 2013August 27, 2014

    The 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops And what we’re all going to do about them. As we head into the busy holiday shopping season, we’ll see lots of Shop Local messages working to get customers to think about shifting their shopping more to local stores. I want to add another layer, and get…

    Read More Weakness 3. Limited SelectionContinue

  • 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops, and what we're all going to do about them.
    customer service | mistakes | shop local

    Weakness 2. Poor Customer Service

    October 21, 2013August 27, 2014

    The 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops And what we’re all going to do about them. As we head into the busy holiday shopping season, we’ll see lots of Shop Local messages working to get customers to think about shifting their shopping more to local stores. I want to add another layer, and get…

    Read More Weakness 2. Poor Customer ServiceContinue

  • 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops, and what we're all going to do about them.
    Best of | entrepreneurship | mistakes | rural

    Weakness 1. Limited Business Hours

    October 14, 2013November 4, 2016

    The 7 Most Common Weaknesses of Local Shops And what we’re all going to do about them. As we head into the busy holiday shopping season, we’ll see lots of Shop Local messages working to get customers to think about shifting their shopping more to local stores. I want to add another layer, and get…

    Read More Weakness 1. Limited Business HoursContinue

  • What does your store front say about your business?
    entrepreneurship | marketing

    What does your store front say about your business?

    September 26, 2013January 2, 2018

    Guest post by Lyn Falk Retailworks, Inc. Your storefront says a lot about you and your business, actually. It’s your customer’s first impression of your brand. When competing with the big box retailers that are inevitably on the outskirts of your town, you need to turn on the charm––something the national chains can’t compete with! Think of someone…

    Read More What does your store front say about your business?Continue

  • One downtown building gives life to many new retail stores
    economic development | ideas | rural

    One downtown building gives life to many new retail stores

    August 7, 2013July 12, 2024

    Guest post by Cathy Lloyd, The Village In the summer of 2007, I had an idea to help the state of retail on the square in downtown Washington, Iowa.  Since Wal-Mart came to town in the ‘70s, there had been a steady decline in the number of retail businesses in the downtown area. I hoped…

    Read More One downtown building gives life to many new retail storesContinue

  • entrepreneurship | marketing | rural

    How do you get noticed in the middle of the block?

    February 11, 2013August 27, 2014

    Reader Dan Johnson, from the Main Street Mall and Perkins Pizza Factory in Perkins, Oklahoma, asked about getting noticed when you’re in the middle of the block. With a row of brick storefronts, it can be tough to stand out! When you’re one business on a long block,how can you stand out?This block is in Traverse City,…

    Read More How do you get noticed in the middle of the block?Continue

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