Here's the latest installment of the SmallBiz Mailbag, a collection of some of the most recent and thought-provoking letters from our Feedback section. We want to hear from you about which stories made you think and what issues affect your small business.

You Cant Replace Face Time (3/3)

I can't disagree with your point, but allow me to offer an alternate view. I came out of a life of national and international sales, where face time and travel were a daily activity. When I started my own business, I agonized over this issue, since I didn't want to spend incredible amounts of time traveling. Piece by piece we have developed a formula to minimize face time.

It all comes down to finding a way to let the client know and feel we have their best interests up front, always. There is no sales push, but [it's about] being obsessed [with] providing in-depth information that the client needs to make an informed decision.

Steve Manuel
Clean It Up Environmental Technologies
Tempe, Ariz.


Architects Who Build Around People (3/3)

I was at first intrigued, but then offended by your article. I am a communications professional for a large (475 people) architecture firm that serves the education market, primarily K-12 schools. Anytime a community allows us to design a new or renovated school for them, we enter the agreement only under the condition of true partnership with the school "family" and greater community. I believe many educational architects would tell you the same thing, because the success of the built project relies so completely on understanding the unique needs of each community.

And to infer that large firms don't focus on clients, but instead on "the next big thing," is a stereotype unfairly brought on the majority by a few "starchitects" in the minority. We consider a trophy project to be one that functionally, economically, and beautifully fulfills the needs as described to us by the client and users.

The Stepping Stone Recovery Facility may serve a very unique clientele, but their desire for a facility reflecting that livelihood is common, and large architecture firms meet that challenge almost daily.

Carrie Stallwitz
DLR Group
Overland Park, Kan.


Dairy Farmers Who Milk the Past (2/28)

True. As someone who was once in the dairy industry, I agree with the tactics taken by small-family dairy farms to keep profitable. Informed consumers prefer to have a choice when making their purchases, especially around food. It's still not a golden path to riches, but changing farming and marketing practices to meet consumers needs is something the Wal-Mart (WMT ) farms are not capable of doing.

Ana
Boston


This item was well-presented and well-timed. There is a need for more articles of this sort in our high-tech industry, where, to quote the reporter, "The high-end branding moves have afforded small dairies a way to insulate themselves -- with built-in margins -- from the fickle market forces that have wreaked havoc on milk prices."

A good and interesting read.

C. Satyanarayana Sarma
Hyderabad, India


Engendering Female Entrepreneurs (2/25)

100% correct. After 10 years, I'm just learning to network. I own my business with my husband. It is commonly referred to by family and friends as "your husband's business," even though I've been the CFO the entire time.

I especially related to the comments about women not supporting women. What is wrong with us?

A. Dalrymple
Salt Lake City


You stated the biggest barrier for women business owners is financial, which is true. But the other huge barriers you didn't even mention are sexual harassment and intellectual-property theft by the very men who are supposedly trying to "help" you.

Rebekah Paul
Los Angeles


How to Beat the Deadbeats (2/24)

I loved the advice. Even though I've been in business 25 years, it still has a lot of reminder merit. Thanks.

Elaine
Efficient Plumbing & Heating Corp.
Brooklyn, N.Y.


For Entrepreneurs, a Harder World (2/22)

As a young entrepreneur (schoolapartments.com) and senior college student at Central Washington University, I think this is an excellent article. I see some of these examples daily (i.e. Costco and its willingness to pick a niche product and just throw it in the offerings). This may also be a blessing for those who start businesses with the intent of being acquired. Having the exposure of Costco could be validating for a niche product.

Of course, we must remember that even [Costco (COST ) CEO] Jim Sinegal was once a lowly entrepreneur, but I had the pleasure of having breakfast with him at a CWU business-to-business meeting in February, and he seems far from that today.

Andrew Michel
Kent, Wash.


As an entrepreneur with several startups under my belt, I offer the following:

1. A point of correction. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is a collaboration of Babson College and London Business School, not London School of Economics.

2. Regarding your concern stemming from the GEM report, I suggest that a developing economy will typically show high rates of growth or activity due to its small base. Notice that same GEM report ranks Uganda as the most entrepreneurial country in world. I think it's a safe bet that it will be a while before Uganda poses a threat to the U.S., China, Mexico, or any other country.

3. Entrepreneurship is about innovation. It thrives in a rapidly changing and turbulent climate. Technology is driving globalization. It favors entrepreneurs big and small, national and international. For that, I favor your "usual response" about the future of entrepreneurship. There has always been and will always be opportunities for entrepreneurs with vision and innovative ideas. Always and everywhere.

Deven Dave
Sloan Fellow 2004
London Business School
London, England