Small businesses stay competitive with big box stores

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by Josh Egbert

Story Created: Nov 19, 2012 at 5:44 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2012 at 6:34 PM CDT

Black Friday can be a tough time for small businesses who are trying to compete with the big box stores. But those small businesses have an advantage that most large retailers don't. Flexibility.

So how do these businesses stay competitive?

It comes down to pleasing the customer. Personalized customer service is key for several of the small businesses News 5 spoke with Monday.

Large box stores, like Best Buy, are preparing for the holiday rush. One of their busiest days of the year is Black Friday. But the large retailers aren't the only ones gearing up.

"We try and check prices and make sure we're competitive on the same models and brands we carry," said Ken Winfrey, Video Kingdom.

Small businesses, like Video Kingdom, are getting set up for the big holiday shopping extravaganza as well.

"In the next 3 or 4 weeks we'll do a large part of our business throughout the year and it is very important to be competitively priced," Winfrey said.

Most stores release their black Friday sales several weeks in advance on line, which also gives smaller retailers a head up.

"People can see what the pre-Black Friday prices are on the internet and we try and price our stores so we're competitive on the name brands," Winfrey said.

But for retailers, it's more than just being competitive with prices.

"Service is really the key to the game for small businesses," said Bernie Tushaus, Prairie Books and Gifts.

Prairie Books in Hastings competes on several different levels - with large book stores, the Internet, and eReaders.

"It's much more of a real experience than just ordering something off the computer," Tushaus said.

Books says above all, it's about being personable.

"Service, service, service, that's the main thing, having what people want then they want it," said Tushaus.

"We try and offer a little more on service, anymore there's a lot of questions of TV's when you're dealing with the 3D TV's and all the NETFLIX and the browsers and streaming Pandora and those things," said Winfrey.

This Saturday is dedicated to small businesses. Businesses all across the country are taking part in small business Saturday, encouraging shoppers to shop local.

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