SOME small businesses flounder in the ever changing dynamic business environment of the nineties, finding it difficult to compete with bigger industry players; not Bob Wade. Bob, the owner of Wade’s Woombye Supermarket for the past 15 years, embraces a challenge and welcomes competition.

Wade’s IGA supermarket has recently opened its new section that includes an 80% expansion to their refrigerated section. The half million dollar extension also included refurbishment of the existing store and there are further plans for more renovations in the near future. These renovations will involve structural as well as cosmetic improvements, including new flooring and ceilings, an upgraded delicatessen and a pizza bar. The existing carparking facilities will increase from 34 to 48.

Bob is thinking ahead all of the time and has expanded and adapted his supermarket to meet the increased demand of a growing population. He has kept up with the changes in technology (eftpos, electronic scanning etc) and is always trying to offer the best customer service around. With in excess of 1000 customers per day Bob is confident that he is price competitive with the major supermarkets in the area. "There is no way thousands of customers would keep coming in here and filling up their trolleys week in and week out if our prices weren’t comparable."

He is not intimidated by the major competitors and is positive about the ability of small businesses to compete and not just survive but thrive. "Aggressive, forward thinking can match the big chain stores any day, my business is proof of that."