Local Products Make the Best Swag
Jim Katzman wrote a great article on Medium about creating swag that customers actually want. One of his tips was…
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The End of Year Checklist for Small Businesses
I’ve been in business a long time now, from retail to service to ag, and I’ve learned some things about…
Use your loyalty card as your business card
At the LaunchRuralOK Small Business Resource event in Alva, I overheard the owner of Millie Coffee from Fairview, Oklahoma, talking…
How to be Idea Friendly – book review
I grew up in a small town in Maine, but I don’t think of myself as a small-town guy. My…
Caring is a small town business advantage
By Stephanie Ward, Firefly Coaching Caring isn’t something you can do if you’re only using it as a tactic. You…
Start smaller: Any local business can be your incubator
Are you starting a business that could use retail space, but you can’t justify renting a storefront? Find a tiny…
Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?
“I want to start up a new business in town which will compete with an existing one. I believe there…
From Finance to Creativity: A Journey to Building an Experience-Based Business in Bellefontaine
In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the…
Create customer experiences online like Open the Shop With Me videos, and in person, like Silent Book Club
When Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better mentioned Common Ground Coffee and Market to me, I found their Instagram feed was…
Hands-on and experience-based businesses boost local economies
Guest post by Jason Duff, founder of Small Nation Ever wanted to pour your own candle? Now you can right here…
How to let customers know when changing your business hours
Post extensively on social channels, and pin your hours post to the top of your page Your small business has…
Survey of Rural Challenges 2015 – 2025 results
Download the PDF report Executive Summary The Survey of Rural Challenges asks rural people to share their ground-level insight into…