Talk to any resident of any town in America and chances are, they’ll be able to name a local mom-and-pop business – a favorite shop, a trusted place for a certain good or product, somewhere they know the owners by name and are willing to pay a little more for a more personal experience.
Competition is tough with large Internet companies rated as the number one challenge facing independent businesses. But as much as online retail giants like eBay and large chain stores like Target and Walmart have made it harder for these kinds of specialty stores to stay in business, small, family owned businesses remain an integral part of the nation’s economy. These stores may not have the resources that the powerhouse retailers do to spread their message, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to compete.