Customer Reviews

Battling Big Box: How Nimble Niche Companies Can Outmaneuver Giant Competitors

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a small business consultant who specializes businesses with cash flow problems, I am always on the lookout for resources that can help my clients run smarter, stronger businesses. When I first saw the title of this book I thought I'd be reading a book about how businesses can take on large competitors and win. It is that, but it really is more. The book's subtitle really more accurately describes the book's content: How Nimble Niche Companies Can Outmaneuver Giant Competitors.

The authors's focus is not on beating the big guys at their game...if it had been the book would have received no stars from me! Instead the content is focused on building a company that can adjust to change rapidly, capitalize on opportunities (without layers of bureaucracy and approvals), carve out a niche population with unmet needs, and meet those needs using a service and relationship approach.

The book is divided into two parts:

Part I The Battle Lines Are Drawn

This section gives a good overview of the realities of running a small business, presenting both the positives and negatives. It gives five essentials of small business success: employee empowerment, effective branding, customers and effective sales, controlling cash flow, and visionary innovation.

Part II The Plan of Attack

The second section is all about planning, execution, and (my favorite) cash flow. The authors' go into detail with each of the five success essentials from Part I.

The book is well researched and readable. It provides real world examples from several companies including Dubroff's newspaper the Pacific Coast Business Times, a book store, product-based businesses, and service based businesses. There is useful information for every type of business with real world strategies and tactics that can be applied to your business.

Can small businesses compete against large competitors? Absolutely, we do it everyday. This book is a resource that can help you focus on the steps you need to take to compete more effectively and successfully.

I was very interested in reading this book because I believe mid-market firms are an integral part of the US Business Economy. I believed I could learn what successful entrepreneurs are doing to compete against larger, more resource-rich competitors. From the Introduction of this book onward I was highlighting and marking up the pages of this easy to read and well written book.

While I thought I would learn about retailers, given the book's name, what I soon realized was this book is applicable to any mid-market firm who has a Goliath in their market.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to learn from others and gain insight into some best practices as it relates to creating a successful firm competing against GIANTS.