There is a widely known lack of customers within smaller businesses in comparison to larger businesses. This is an issue that currently impacts all sorts of groups and individuals around the United States, from business owners to customers. There is a strong idea that the challenges causing this issue arose due to poor ability to compete with larger businesses in many different ways ranging from product quality to knowledge on promoting. What do you think are the true causes of this issue?

Impacts on Competition

There are many details within a business that lead to either success or struggle. It is true that competition is a big challenge for small businesses to overcome. A  business owner in Plover, WI, Brian Placeway, owner of Placeway Pools Spas Patios said, “We had to make sure we found high quality products. We knew being in a smaller town word of mouth was going to be a big factor in branding.” Something that small businesses need to think about and focus on is making sure they sell the best possible products to draw extra attention to their business over another. However just starting up causes it to be a struggle financially as there is a budget to take into account while making expenses. Until the business grows and there is a steady income, selling good quality products that will make people want to shop at their business is a struggle as it is not very affordable yet. This typically draws customers away from their business to a bigger business that they know has exactly what they are needing. 

Other than the product and price struggles there are still other areas of a business to consider. Struggles with branding was expressed in an article by The Yale Ledger when the author said, “Many small business owners lack the marketing and branding expertise needed to effectively promote their businesses.” In order to have the opportunity to sell products the brand and business needs to be heard and seen as something truly special by the public. Small businesses, typically due to their lack of experience, don’t promote their business in the most efficient ways and they tend to poorly inform the public of important information about what their business has to offer. 

Impact on Community

The struggle of starting a business affects different groups such as business owners and customers. A way that businesses are impacted during the startup process is expressed in the New York Amsterdam News when a reporter, Cyril Josh Barker, said, “Major retailers that have already come to the city, like Target and Kmart, have made their mark on neighborhoods by giving jobs and convenience.” As long as there are large businesses, those who own smaller businesses will gain less customers and will have to put in extra work to gain loyalty from customers. This impacts the businesses income and ability to stay in business. 

Brian Placeway, owner of Placeway Pools Spas Patios expressed how customers are impacted when he said, “Sometimes you have to cut back on certain products that might not have been performing as well as others.” The lack of products available for purchase is a disadvantage to customers. Customers typically choose the best option for purchase based on personal preferences and limits such as budgets. Going outside of this preference can be difficult for customers and impact their everyday lifestyle.

Possible Tips

There are struggles within starting a business however there are still things that can be done to make it easier. A reporter from The Yale Ledger expressed, “My customers don’t shop here to purchase things necessarily. My customers come here to ask questions.” Customers are driven by and are more likely to become loyal to a company that has passion and knowledge about what they sell. The more the customer is able to freely ask questions and gain knowledge about a product themselves the more they will want to go to a business and give back to them for all of the help and the comfortable space that is provided.

There are more ways to increase a customer base to help your business grow. This is expressed in a news report done by Sonari Glinton, when she said, “…one of the ways to personalize products and the shopping experience is by talking to and knowing the customers.” Customers like to feel welcomed and known in a store they are purchasing from. The more personalized an owner can make every conversation with a customer will likely increase the possibility of gaining trustworthy customers. People like to feel like they are valued and like they have a sense of engagement from business owners and this is a great way to do so and lure them to continue to come to their business for that specific product along with other needs. 

Many people struggle with business startups based on competition, quality and availability of product and promotions. This fact has been proven throughout personal reports, news reports and many articles.  However there are possible acts people can take to ease these struggles but there is still a question about if the issues can ever be fully avoided.