Hello, Bizbox! Did you miss me? I’ve missed you. Sadly, I’ve been too busy lately working in my company to write about it. But here I am, back again, and ready to talk about the things I’ve learned from big business.

When I talk with people who come into bluehouse, many seem so impressed that the highest compliment they can conjure is: “I can’t believe this isn’t a chain!” What I hope they mean is that it looks like we’ve put a lot of thought into our space, promotional materials, merchandising, and other appearances . . . as much as a company that can actually afford to pay people to do these things and more. We have devoted significant resources to these efforts, not only because it helps us stand out in a crowd and create a memorable experience, but also because I believe it instills a certain confidence in our customers. If a business has a number of locations, the thinking may go, it must be doing something right. People want to be associated with a winning idea. I think a small business can generate this image by appearing polished, professional, and thoughtfully conceived.

Another idea from big business: appear relevant to the world around you. We try to keep ourselves in the news with a variety of initiatives and responses to various world events. This may be slightly easier for us than most, as our focus is in eco-friendly furnishings and the green movement has really taken off lately. We also sponsor and participate in events all over Baltimore, as well as hold public events in our store, which we advertise on the radio. I have reservations about participating in the logo wars, that constant struggle to brand every human experience with a swarm of corporate marks, but a few well-placed appearances go a long way.

Another major lesson from big business is something that is usually glaring in its absence. The advantage for the little guy who plays his cards right is that he or she can be flexible. We can address the individual needs and concerns of our customers and our employees alike. Big business often simulates personal contact, but the closest they can get is “personalized.” They don’t often have the luxury of the sort of relationships we are able to form, just by virtue of the fact of who we are.