Instead of waiting for customers to walk through the door, “smart rural businesses are using the same omni channel tactics as big businesses,” says Small Business Trends in listing eight rural and small town trends for the new year. Besides shooting for sales over the Internet, the online publication says rural businesses can succeed with superior customer service for locals, “authentic experiences” for visitors and walkable distances that everyone prizes.
“Sales at small retailers have increased faster than sales at big retail stores since 2012,” says Small Business Trends; big-box stores are losing sales to the Internet while smaller outlets can beat them on customer service, “curated selections” of merchandise and “the enjoyment of shopping.”
The shift to contract workers and the gig economy allow people to stay rural, says Small Business Trends. “Because rural independent workers have a lower cost of living than urban ones, they are better able to compete in digital talent marketplaces.”