Comments on Small Biz Survival: Can the local grocery make a comeback

You're right there, Paul.

2009-09-19T12:50:52.181-05:00

You're right there, Paul.

Every dollar is a vote. It is up to each of us to ...

2009-09-19T12:31:11.712-05:00

Every dollar is a vote. It is up to each of us to support local businesses. Local businesses mean dollars stay locally. Only shopping at big box stores and chains does not help local businesses (in any town).

Thank you, Carl. Great interview.

2009-09-18T09:31:28.605-05:00

Thank you, Carl. Great interview.

This is such a great read. We really need to under...

2009-09-18T06:21:24.633-05:00

This is such a great read. We really need to understand that it's possible to compete against the big boxes. The comments are great too - especially the one from stargardener.

I came across a great interview with Dave Ratner, owner of four pet food stores, about this subject (http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/podcasts/smart_answers/smart_answers_09_14_09.htm?campaign_id=rss_smlbz). It's an 11-minute audio clip that everyone has to hear. It has great advice for independents.

Basically, he says customers want to support the local business but they expect more from them. And that means incredible customer service.

Stargardner, that's a pretty good illustration...

2009-09-17T21:00:25.947-05:00

Stargardner, that's a pretty good illustration of how small town businesses evolve over time.

Darrin, we have plenty of voices in the negative. It's up to us to share the positive stories.

Marco, the Market is definitely different than the big guys. That's why the succeed. Thanks. :)

Becky, I loved this piece, especially since you s...

2009-09-17T18:33:56.829-05:00

Becky,

I loved this piece, especially since you show how a small business can beat the big guys at their own game.

It seems that Alva's market did so by service and differentiation. I would bet that the owners and storekeeper's are probably more knowledgeable about their product's than the supercenter's clerks.

I wish them luck.....

Cheers,
Marco

Becky, thanks for sharing. It's great reading...

2009-09-15T14:09:51.138-05:00

Becky, thanks for sharing. It's great reading stories like this. Too many times we hear why something won't work rather than how to make it work. And in the end, even if it didn't pan out- at least they tried!

We lost our mom and pop grocery store to a Superce...

2009-09-15T07:45:04.248-05:00

We lost our mom and pop grocery store to a Supercenter. However — in time — we gained a BBQ diner and a mom and pop outlet for local produce and garden plants.

The store's former butcher — who also sold his fabulous smoked meats and BBQ at the grocery store — opened the diner; and the demand for local produce (formally sold at the grocery store) was the incentive for a local farming family to clear a corner of their land and start their business.

From there the farm family built a greenhouse — and went on to offer a very popular pumpkin patch and hay maze! It has grown so popular, the local Chamber decided to organize a Fall Festival every October!

The BBQ diner now has a neighbor: a butcher shop. It just opened ... I really need to go see if the "new" butcher is the same friendly face that used save a sliced whole brisket at the grocery store meat counter! I just betcha it is!

Paul & Paul, I love it when you both comment o...

2009-09-14T21:58:49.465-05:00

Paul & Paul, I love it when you both comment on a story. :)

Paul M., I have seen a lot of interest in local. There's even talk of "local-washing," trying to make a big business seem more local.

Paul S., you made some terrific points in your piece, about how our grocery stores have and have not changed. Thanks for sharing it. Before Alva's Market was Alva's Market, it was Homeland. And before it was Homeland, it was a Safeway. That's going back to when I was a kid. :)

Great things Becky. Great minds think alike on a ...

2009-09-14T21:52:48.767-05:00

Great things Becky. Great minds think alike on a Monday and I was thinking and writing about the same subject. http://paulswansen.com/?p=416

GREAT success story. Some of the wiser national c...

2009-09-14T13:08:50.267-05:00

GREAT success story.

Some of the wiser national chains have started selling local stuff too.

So, I am breathlessly awaiting "People of Alv...

2009-09-14T11:50:44.805-05:00

So, I am breathlessly awaiting "People of Alva's Market" to compete with this....

http://peopleofwalmart.com/

LOL

"the future is here we just have to take it b...

2009-09-14T11:23:52.164-05:00

"the future is here we just have to take it back."

That's why I love Geo.

great story of how social ME-dia of people coming ...

2009-09-14T09:20:38.420-05:00

great story of how social ME-dia of people coming together together to build something that is caring and cares rather the box store mentality - i think the future is the mom & pop local trust store - a society built on trust serves its people - the big box stores talk about branding but the little guy talks about extended family - and so the future is here we just have to take it back :-) g-oh

Bobbie, that's a good question. I also wonder ...

2009-09-14T08:53:56.221-05:00

Bobbie, that's a good question. I also wonder if our local lenders would do the same today?

Very encouraging story, Becky. I'm so glad you...

2009-09-14T05:22:25.158-05:00

Very encouraging story, Becky. I'm so glad you posted it. I wonder if our local lenders would have done the same...?

Nice comeback. The impossible is sometimes evitabl...

2009-09-14T00:40:40.986-05:00

Nice comeback. The impossible is sometimes evitable. There's always a way, as long as you can focus on how you can provide more value and uniqueness that's different from your Competitor