Comments on: Don’t always feel sorry for the little guy

By: Yogesh

Yogesh — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:58:14 +0000

If small businesses want to survive then they have to adopt to the changing times and concentrate on customer relationship and being more friendly. Take for instance what has happened in India, large corporations are opening big malls and shopping centers so local traders have started getting more customer friendly in a bid to keep their customer.

I can call up my local grocery shop and order over the phone and supplies would reach my home in less than an hour with no delivery charges and in case some thing is missing or needs to be changed, I don’t even have to go back to the shop, their delivery man comes to the home, picks up the stuff and changes it!

Now why would I want to go with companies or order over the internet?

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:08:06 +0000

I agree with you there. The rule is that you need to adapt and work with how things go. A small shop wont be able to buy in bulk and get the prices Amazon gets, but they could find some other way to gain loyal customers.

By: Fred

Fred — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 04:45:09 +0000

We did the online rings Al, easiest thing ever. Titaniumera.com They were great to me. I did try the “big little guy first” The “family jeweler” my sister’s in law’s family has always used. I told him my budget and he laughed at me. Titaniumera worked with me, and were great.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:30:36 +0000

I guess it is always easy to blame the big bad wolf and or someone else, I am sure there are many steps that smaller shops could take to tighten up their businesses and retain customer loyalty if they had some fight and business acumen.

By: John

John — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 06:01:46 +0000

I couldn't agree more, I've blogged about the anti Tesco stuff before with suggestions how small businesses can take on Tesco and even offered FREE consultancy to small businesses on how to do so, as yet not one has wanted to take up the offer...

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:30:45 +0000

A local bookshop closed down and posted a sign stating something like: “Due to competition from Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, we are forced to close our doors after X number of years.” What a cop out. Successful local businesses differentiate themselves by providing superior services and creating a sense of community within their shop.

By: Abdul

Abdul — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:03:18 +0000

I know what you mean. they complain and fail to deliver.

By: Glen Allsopp

Glen Allsopp — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:34:27 +0000

People need to start setting up online to increase their income before its too late, or at least for any small business out there who still wants to be fully operational in the next 5 years

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:24:28 +0000

lol, I had a feeling they were going to let me down so bought a temporary one for £12 off ebay as a stopgap

By: Al

Al — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:23:04 +0000

You should of gone to Turkey

Did you get the ring in time?