Standing Out as a Small Business

In recent weeks, small business has been the subject of political debate. It has brought up an interesting question, that I have not thought about before.

Why do people start businesses?

As for myself, I can say that DHD was established because we believe that we can provide you with better products, more cost-effectively than other manufactures. We saw an opportunity in the outdoor furniture industry and we've filled the gap. There is no doubt, that online retail has changed the world forever, but there are still some things that are not just pack it, ship, and deliver.

In this day and age, people want personal experiences. Customers want to feel like they have the power to control the buying process, or call and immediately have their questions answered.

Maybe I'm speaking for myself, but I cannot stand to call a large corporation, be left on hold for 30 minutes, and then redirected to a third-party customer support agency that has no clue what I am even talking about.

Companies who solve real problems are the ones who make a difference in the long run. The market has a way of weeding out the businesses that were formed for the wrong reasons. It's not a big secret why 9 out of 10 businesses fail. 90% of businesses are solely money-driven. They have no special place in the market or an actual desire to solve problems that plague their respective industry.

No matter what, DHD will hold true to the values that we started with. We want every customer to feel like they are doing "small-town" business wherever they may be.

Sure, undoubtedly, we will have our bumps and bruises along the way, but it's all about how you recover as a business. How you recover from mistakes and setbacks shows exactly where you're at as a business. Were you accomplishing your mission or did you let the "bottom-line" cloud your judgment as to what's truly right and what's wrong?

In my few years, I've learned a couple of things about business and life in general. If you do the opposite of what everyone else does, you are more far more likely to succeed, and even if you do not, you learned a heck of a lot more than following the crowd, which becomes another tool in your belt that might help you make a future decision.

Ultimately, I think everyone who owns a business must ask themselves what makes them stand out and be honest with themself. Every decision you make has to be in tune with what your business was founded on, which will lead you in the right direction.