How can a small business?

compete with BIG businesses ??

It all comes down to profit margins. You want to be able to charge the most and pay the least (without overcharging to the point in which people cannot afford to buy, or they are "priced out" of the market that you've created).

Big businesses's are usually able to buy things for less, because they buy in bulk, so they are able to have a lower prices and keep the same margin.

But when they buy in bulk, usually they are limited in how they display the item. Usually they have to display in bulk. So there is nothing about the display that is very appealing to a consumer. Rather they are simply attracted by the lower price and convenience of one stop shopping or the "big box" (one huge store that offers everything).

If you are a smaller business then I am guessing you are not going to have much square footage. So keep most of your items in the back warehouse somewhere, and make the retail floor a display. People are visually stimulated. So when they see that you have ONE ashtray, for example, and it is really cool then they perceive it as a one of the kind. Even if they know that it is not, they still can't help but be attracted by the over all display and ambiance of the entire collection.

When you walk into Prada, for example, they only have one or two shirts on the floor. You often have to ask for help to see if they have another in the right size. This creates that "I must have it" feeling.

So, say, you have a bunch of sheets stacked up. In this case, someone may not think that they don't need sheets. But if you have it displayed on a bed and it matches a really cool lamp, they might LOVE the lamp and then realize how well the sheets go with that item. So you have been strategic through cross-marketing.

Also price some things that move very quickly and others that move more slowly. So that people will always walk out the door having bought something. You can have a "sale" on certain items just to get people in the door.

This is very difficult. But you have to carve out some sort of niche. You might want to think in terms of your place being a boutique (which includes personalized, friendly, and helpful customer service). Customer service is key, creates loyalty.

Then you grow!

Good luck

provide some unique. go above and beyond customers expectations

specialty nack usually, however all businesses grow from the same point so if the smaller goes about good business practice it will grow, in turn becoming larger competition to big business

my dad owns a small buisness and compeats with a big one and they way you got to do it it is get the supplies from the same supplier as them and get in half the quantity that will cost you a bit more than them. But you must advertise in the same spot as them too and this will seem very expensive but you must enclude that you use that supllier as they will probably include it in their add also. Price it 10% cheaper. And because you probably have way less employess yuo will make the same amount of money, once you get that money yo repeat the process it will soon become profit. And you will get more popular and people will come, you wont be the leading company but you will be compeating and making equaly money to many of their average employees as they have to pay more poeple good luck

Buy a bigger crab farm

sell chili crab
sell 80gb HDD

Don't have to. Small businesses are unique in its own ways and a major contributor to the economy.

ask rusdi