Tiny store has retail market niche

Science Toy Magic has won the New Mexico Small Business Development Center's Star Client award. The tiny retailer in Santa Fe demonstrates each toy to customers. Every toy in the store illustrates the principles of science. Science Toy Magic was honored because it more than quadrupled revenues with the assistance of the SBDC. The store is only 58 square feet (!), but it acquired 5 new toys at this year's International Toy Fair in New York that it will be selling before any other store in the country.

There's a niche that Wal-Mart is unlikely to enter. And another lesson -- your local SBDC can provide invaluable business assistance to your store and its free.