7 Biggest Strengths of Local Shops
And how you can build on them.
Remember the 7 Weaknesses of Local Shops? They were crazy popular because they touched a nerve. I acknowledged that some of our local businesses really need to step up to earn business today. This series is the flip side of that idea. Small town stores have strengths, too. Our best local shops know a lot about customer service and community, and every business would be wise to learn from our strengths.
- Get to know you
- Make customers feel loved
- Fewer layers
- More flexible
- More knowledgeable
- Innovative
- Benefiting the local community
Strength 5: More knowledgeable.
We have the luxury of educating customers, knowing that if they like what they learn, they are likely to make the resulting purchase from us.
In a big city, running a tasting or a sampling or a class means taking the risk that the potential customers will “take advantage” of the free education and then spread out to make their eventual purchases at any one of the many competitors in the metro area.
In a small town, you can offer a tasting or a class or sample your wares knowing that your customers have a lot fewer buying choices. They also have a stronger bond to you because you are part of the same community. You can worry much less about people taking advantage of your generosity. Your customers may delay buying, but they’ll be back one of these days.
For example, my mother used to teach wine appreciation classes through Northwest Technology Center. She couldn’t make any sales during class, and that wasn’t really the point of the class. But of course, her store carried all the wines she sampled in the class. We always knew to order extra of the wines she’d be teaching in class, because the customers would come.
A few years back, we did all the work to organize a wine tasting at the local arts festival. We invited Oklahoma wineries, and we also set up a booth and shared some wines from our stock. The wineries were legally allowed to sell right on site. We were not. But we didn’t mind the delayed sales. We knew a few people would still come make a purchase from us. And they did.
Next up: Strength 6: Innovative
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Downtown is your town’s core: How to make your case - February 22, 2021
- Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
- In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
- Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
- How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
- The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
- Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
- Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
- Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
- Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
