You need to research the products the competition is carrying in comparison to your own and determine the areas in which you are going head to head. Then you have to either upgrade your products or broaden the variety of your selection. Swanda also urges businesses to take a more personal interest in customers. Greet them by name. Some stores keep a very detailed list of repeat patrons that includes important dates, the kind of merchandise a customer is typically interested in, whether a patron needs a special size or likes a certain designer.
Smart proprietors use that information to stay in contact with their customers.
She also recommends that district merchants coordinate their advertising. You don't have to limit the alliance to retail establishments, either. Accountants and lawyers can also participate, letting customers know that they don't have to go far for these types of specialty services. You can also go back to the manufacturer and ask for price protection. The manufacturer, in many cases, will be willing because he needs independent retailers to introduce new products.