Compete with Big Global Businesses Using These Tips

by Andrew Lisa

Giant corporations haven't had it as good as they have it now since the Gilded Age. From cereal to cell-phone carriers, retail to restaurants, most industries are dominated by a handful of behemoth companies. If you're a little guy just starting out who has a great idea for, say, candy, it's hard to compete with Skittles – especially since Skittles is owned by Wrigley, which is owned by Mars, which also owns M&Ms, Twix, Dove Chocolate, Milky Way, Lifesavers, Starburst, Altoids and Snickers.

Global businesses have the resources and the reach – but there are always openings for ambitious entrepreneurs to find their place.

Find the Gap

You're probably not going to knock Coca-Cola off its perch any time soon. The trick is to find the gap. By identifying a problem in an industry – no matter how big or how singularly dominated it is by any one company – a savvy entrepreneur can find, own and market the solution to that problem. Those wishing to advance their careers should follow these exact same steps.  The gap could be the desire of consumers for something that they're lacking, a new addition to an old product or simply something someone hasn't thought of yet. But all the good ideas are taken, right? So where do you look?

Keep up with Changing Legislation

A great place for an ambitious entrepreneur to look for an opening to establish his or her very own niche is through the examination of our constantly evolving laws and regulations. When a certain pesticide was banned, the agriculture industry had to change. When the EPA banned HCFCs in refrigerants, the air conditioning industry had to change. Any change in an industry leaves openings for people who can sell alternative pesticides, non-ozone depleting refrigerants, or any other product or service that simply wasn't needed before the rules changed.

Keep it Local

Like politics, all business is local. As discussed in the article "10 Ways SMEs Can Compete With Big Business Globally," plan on the local level first. Oftentimes, global brands try to paste a one-size-fits-all campaign onto their national or regional strategy. Consider pairing with smaller local companies that already have skin in the game.

The digital age has given smart, sharp entrepreneurs tools that were never before available to get truly great products to market.

If the Walmarts of the world are corporate Goliaths, start-up entrepreneurs are definitely Davids. Fight the local fight you know, look for a window of opportunity in changing local, state and federal laws and embrace problems anywhere you find them. Finding the solution just might be your foot in the door for global expansion.

Andrew Lisa is a freelance business writer. He covers startups and small-business tech.

Embracing these tips as either an entrepreneur or job seeker will lead you to the Smooth Sale! 

Read Additional Sales Strategies:

Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results, Sourcebooks

HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews, Career Press

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