Many retailers faced with a slowing economy they continue to do what already makes them successful.

“Customer service. That sums it up,” said Bruce Christianson, owner of Carly’s Shoes in downtown Hutchinson since 1988. “That has always been my motto — customer service, customer service. Whatever you do in good times emphasize even more.”

That leads to another foundation of small business — customer loyalty, added Lee Gruenhagen, co-owner of the Little Country Store, located across Main Street from Christianson’s shop.

“Loyal local customers will buy something else. Those are the ones you have to sell more things to,” Gruenhagen said.

Both Main Street shop owners believe they can successfully compete in a retail world increasingly dominated by big-box retailers by finding a niche not served by those commercial behemoths.

Read more about surviving difficult retailing times in INC. — Your Monthly Business Journal, on pages 6A and 7A of the Leader’s April 29 print edition.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com [2].)