Look, I get it. You’re sitting in your shop, looking at the foot traffic on the street, and wondering how on earth you’re supposed to compete with Jeff Bezos or the massive department stores at Chermside.
It feels like a losing battle, doesn’t it? They’ve got billions in the bank, robots in warehouses, and they can ship a pair of socks to someone’s door before they’ve even finished clicking 'buy'.
But here’s the thing—most of what you’ve been told about competing with the big guys is absolute rubbish.
You’ve probably been told you need to lower your prices, spend a fortune on a fancy website, or try to stock everything under the sun. Honestly? That’s the fastest way to go broke.
I’ve spent years talking to business owners across Brisbane, from Paddington to Sandgate, and the ones who are actually making money aren't trying to be 'Amazon Lite'. They’re doing the exact opposite.
Grab a coffee. Let’s talk about how you actually win this fight without burning through your savings.
Myth #1: You have to be the cheapest
This is the biggest lie in retail. If you try to compete on price, you’ve already lost.
The big giants win on price because they buy a million units at a time. You can’t do that. But here’s a secret: people don’t always want the cheapest option.
Think about it. Why do people pay $6 for a coffee at a local cafe when they could make it for 20 cents at home? Because they want the experience, the quality, and the feeling of supporting someone local.
When you drop your prices to match the big guys, you’re telling the world that your products are just 'stuff'. You’re stripping away the value of your expertise and your curated shop.
Instead of being cheap, be worth it. People will pay more if they know they’re getting something unique or if they trust your advice. If you can help a customer find the perfect outfit for a wedding or the right gift for a picky mother-in-law, they won't care if it costs $10 more than it does online. They’re paying for the fact that you saved them from a headache.
Myth #2: You need a massive online store
I see so many boutique owners spend $10k+ on a massive e-commerce website with 500 products, only to realise they don't have the time to manage the inventory or the money to drive people to it.
Unless you’re planning on becoming a full-time shipping manager, you don't need to put every single item you sell online.
What you actually need is a website that makes people want to visit your physical shop. Your site should show off your vibe, highlight your best sellers, and make it incredibly easy for people to find your address and opening hours.
Focus on getting more people through your door rather than trying to ship boxes across the country. Your shop is your biggest asset—use your digital presence to get people into it, not to replace it.
Myth #3: You need to find 'new' customers constantly
Marketing experts love to talk about 'reach' and 'new leads'. But chasing new people is expensive and exhausting.
The big giants spend millions on ads because they have to. They’re machines that need constant fuel. You? You have the luxury of building real relationships.
The most profitable thing you can do right now isn't running a Facebook ad to strangers; it’s looking at the people who have already bought from you.
If someone comes in once, they’re a customer. If they come back three times, they’re a regular. Regulars are where the profit is. They don't cost you anything in advertising, they spend more, and they tell their mates about you.
We’ve seen it time and again—when things get quiet, the shops that survive are the ones that focus on their regulars instead of shouting at strangers on the internet. A simple text or email to your best customers about a new arrival will do more for your bank balance than a month of 'brand awareness' ads.
The 'Small Business' Advantage (Use it!)
Being small is actually your superpower. The big giants are slow. They’re corporate. They’re boring.
You can do things they can’t.
1. You can be a real person
Nobody wants to talk to a chatbot or a corporate Twitter account. They want to talk to you.Show your face on your socials. Tell people why you picked certain items for your shop. If a customer has a problem, you can fix it instantly without them having to wait on hold for 40 minutes. That personal touch is something the big guys literally cannot scale. It’s why you can beat the big chains just by being yourself.
2. You can curate, not just stock
Walking into a massive department store is overwhelming. There’s too much choice, and half of it is rubbish.As a boutique owner, your job is to be an editor. You’ve done the hard work of filtering through the junk to find the best stuff. When a customer walks into your shop, they’re trusting your taste. That curation is a service in itself.
3. You can move fast
Is there a local event happening this weekend? You can put a sign out the front and run a promotion in five minutes. The big guys need three months and six board meetings to change a price tag. Use that speed to stay relevant to what’s happening in your suburb right now.What should you do first?
If business is a bit slow and you’re feeling the pressure from the giants, don't panic and start slashing prices.
First, make sure your shop is easy to find. Does your Google listing have the right hours? Are the photos of your shop front current?
Second, start collecting details. Every time someone buys something, ask for their email or phone number. Don't be weird about it—just tell them you send out first-look invites for new stock.
Third, give them a reason to come back. A handwritten thank-you note in the bag or a follow-up text a week later goes a long way.
The reality of the 'fight'
Look, you’re never going to out-logistics Amazon. You’re never going to out-budget Myer.
But you can out-service them every day of the week. You can make your customers feel like they belong to something, rather than just being an order number on a screen.
Focus on the people in your local area. Make your shop a place they actually enjoy visiting. If you do that, the 'online giants' won't seem nearly as scary.
If you’re feeling stuck or your shop has gone a bit quiet lately, we’ve probably seen the exact same issue before. At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane shops get more people through the door without the corporate fluff.
If you want to chat about how to get your till ringing again, get in touch with us here. No jargon, just a plan that actually works for a small business.