Mom & Pop Shop: A colloquial term for a small, independent, family-owned business. Unlike franchises and large corporations, which have multiple operations in various locations, mom & pop shops usually have a single location that often occupies a physically small space.
A small, independent, usually family-owned, controlled, and operated business that has a minimum number of employees, has small volume and is typically not a franchise, so mom and pop shops are only open for business from a single location.
A common complaint made against big box, large chain businesses is that they put mom-and-pop stores out of business. Historically, new businesses often cause the demise of old businesses. A mom-and-pop store is often a small retail store owned, often found in ethnic neighborhoods, where they are integral to the community and are operated by members of the same family. The proprietors work hard to appeal to their local customers, adding a personal touch to every transaction.
Questions
- Do You Think Mom-and-pop shops are dying?
- Do You think big box stores like Wal Mart are still putting mom & pop shops out of business?
- Do You think large online retailers like Amazon are putting mom & pop shops out of business?
- Do you think the ‘buy local’ trend works for businesses other than farms and restaurants?
- Would you guess that mom and pop shops do better in small towns than in urban areas?
Common Types of Mom & Pop businesses:
- Coffee Shop and Bar: simply a coffee shop that after 4 pm also serves wine and beer.
- Pet Grooming and Boarding
- Clothing Boutique
- Bakery or Cake Shop
- Grocery Store or Specialty Food Store
- Nursery or Lawn and Gardening Service
- Food Truck
- Thrift Shop
- Tutoring Services
- Carwash
- Gym or Cross-Fit Club
- Restaurant
- Organic Produce Store
- Hair Salon or Barbershop like Pete & Lydia Baez in Coronado, Arco Iris.
- Ice Cream Shop
- Home Improvement
- Flower Shop & Giftcard Shop
- Bookstore
- Cleaning Sevice
- Bed and Breakfast
- Microbrewery
- Bowling Alley
- Gift Baskets
- Nanny Services
- Day Care Center
- Sell on eBay, Amazon or Craigslist
- Scrapbooking Business
- Administrative Assistant Services
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