Today, large chain stores are taking over the market place. So, it makes it impossible for small businesses to compete with them. There are both advantages and disadvantages in this situation.
First, I would like to mention disadvantages of this situation for small businesses. For instance, the makeup industry. Small businesses do not have as many products as large chain stores do. And also there is usually a quality difference between these small makeup businesses and the large chain stores. I do not think that anybody, including me, would shop from random shops instead of more well-known stores like Rossman, Olivia etc. These are the disadvantages of large chain stores’ place in any industry for small businesses.
And now, I would like to talk about the advantages. I will take the makeup industry as a sample again, because as a customer I have some experiences. From my point of view, today people are looking for cheaper, but more effective makeup products(at least me). If the small businesses give cheaper prices to the products than large chain stores do, they will get more customers. For instance, if there was a product that I wanted to buy but it is too expensive in the large chain stores like Olivia, Rossman, etc, and then I notice a small business that sells it for a cheaper price, I would immediately buy it. After that situation, I will get interested in this shop, and will become a permanent customer.
So, in my opinion, becoming aware of what customers want and what the frailties and weaknesses of your rivals are is the point to be successful in any type of business.
