Does Size Matter?

BusinessWeek just posted an article about how small restaurants are competing with the big fast-food chains:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2006/sb20060629_796149.htm

I remember independent stores complaining, in the 1980s, about competing against giants like Sears, Montgomery Ward, and JCPenney. Now Ward's is long gone, Sears is struggling, JCPenney has reinvented itself more than a few times, and Wal-Mart reigns as retailing royalty.

All along, the savvy independents have been doing what BusinessWeek describes--connecting with customers, building relationships, and cost-effectively differentiating themselves in unique ways. Although technology is giving small businesses a big boost, they're essentially competing on their smarts--as always.