The shop with the exotics has a larger selection with one flower than the shop that has none. Service - Ask any major retail chain who has the best customer service and chances are they will say Nordstrom's. They are the team to beat in retail customer service. In small towns, family and small business can usually offer better individual customer service than national chains. Friendly - Small businesses usually excel in this area.
Large businesses have more restrictions and rules than small businesses.
Small businesses can get to know their customers by name. Workers in small businesses have more of a sense of ownership in their job then large faceless corporations. Convenient - We hate to go out of the way for things. We pick things up on the way home from work. We shop, eat, buy gas where it's easiest.