Some nice points on how business's and management practices are changing due to the age differences of workers.

Caspar Benson / Fstop-Corbis

Remember that crazy dotcom bubble in the late 1990s and the huge bust that followed? It looks like we’re about to sit through the same movie all over again.

Blockbuster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning, as part of a pre-arranged recapitalization that it has negotiated with its bondholders. With the filing, Blockbuster has wiped out nearly $1 billion in debt and given most of its bondholders equity in the company instead. The filing marks the end of an era, in which Blockbuster dominated the home entertainment space with thousands of local stores throughout the U.S.

Starting or maintaining a small local business is no easy task.  This is especially the case when you offer a product or service that is provided by major players that are hard to compete solely on price with.  For every story of a mom and pop shop that has fought off the corporate giants, there are hundreds that did not share the same fate.

However times are changing, and technology is providing opportunities that were never even thought possible just a few short years ago.  While a well thought out digital marketing plan is a given, I feel there are 3 key things a small business or start up can do today that can not only give them a real shot in the sales arm, but build customer loyalty and retention.

Richard Branson started his first business selling mail-order records when he was 20 years old.

 

Good to see coverage of non-technology startups for once... people will always have to eat and clean up messes.