Independent merchants fight big retailers with selection, service

The Columbus Dispatch: This season finds independent retailers across the country dealing with a new set of economic challenges even as they still contend with growing competition from big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Borders Inc. That means merchants are being pressed more than ever to capitalize on what sets them apart from the rest of the retail universe: merchandise that's unique and well-suited to a store's clientele, and customer service that's beyond the ordinary.

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