Competing With Wal-Mart

(Middlefield, Ohio) With a Wal-Mart Supercenter scheduled to open in this NE Ohio community next spring, the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce has hired a consultant to aid merchants in competing. Kenneth Stone, a professor emeritus of economics at Iowa State University, has years of experience researching the impact of chain stores.

"Unless you change the way you do business," Stone warned, "you risk losing your business."

In a three-hour presentation, Stone outlined necessary techniques and tactics for small businesses to compete and survive. Adapting their products, services, and methodologies to work around the influence of Wal-Mart is required.

In addition to Middlefield, within the next year Wal-Mart plans to open Supercenters in Chardon in Geauga County, North Madison in Lake County, Oberlin in Lorain County, and Wadsworth in Medina County.