handmade

Here are two articles that address how mom and pop businesses may have an advantage over the big boys.

In Customer Service is No 1
specialty shops find little things, like a friendly hello, can inspire loyalty and sales.

The unique relationships that a ‘mom & pop’ or small business owner is able to build with customers may be the edge needed to compete with Walmart and the big box stores.

The custom framing and handcrafted work of some 400 artists is enough to lure people into Gallery 143 in Green.

But owner Joan Smith said she doesn’t rely on just her product to keep them coming back.

Customer service is the top priority, as Smith focuses on personal interaction to create a welcoming environment and build customer loyalty.

”I’m never going to be able to compete against Walmart. I’m always going to lose against people who are just looking for an [inexpensive] gift,” she said. ”And I will lose some people in this economy for that reason.

”But people who come here already know they want something different and if I treat them right, they might come back because they want to support you. I’ve had a lot of people say, ‘I hope you’re doing well.’ ”

This article also details the customer service efforts of another mom and pop seasonal business, a garden center: the seminars they schedule during garden planning months and the blog where they share gardening tips with their customers.

In Simple Landing Pages are Best for Mom and Pop, a search engine optimization group finds that big corporations can have a tough time competing with mom and pop businesses online. Mom and pop businesses can often move more quickly and develop simple, focused product-oriented pages that speak specifically to their customers’ needs.

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