Answer: We hope so.

Actually it is a matter of tenacity versus the every changing world of marketing and sales.

Somewhere out there in the circulation area of the Dunklin County Democrat is the oldest business around. Just who that might be is unknown. It would be interesting to find out if anyone knows with certainty . . Riggs Supply has been in business since 1859. So we can go from there.

The purpose here is not to isolate or praise just a few businesses--or leave anyone out--but by pointing out some examples of longevity in a variety of businesses we can commend all those establishments in this area that have weathered the storm of modern competition, and still managed to carry on.

Just as a for instance:

Peoples Furniture has been in business at the same location for 72 years. Wilcoxson Homeplace has been around for 58 years. McCaul's Tire and Appliance 58 years. Milller's Sporting Goods for 67 years. Alford's Bar-B-Q for 53 years.

Look for moment at modern competition:

*The relatively new influx of fast food franchises.

*New convenience stores with franchise backing.

*Large city competition from huge organizations selling furniture, office supplies, medical supplies, sports equipment and hardware, etc.

*The lure of big city malls.

*On-line ordering.

*The deluge of mail-outs from catalog companies. (Have you checked your mailbox lately?)

*Large discount store operations, with enormous purchasing power.

*The loss of small town manufacturing to global free trading and out-sourcing.

So against this massive competition we should admire all the business people in small towns who have not only managed to survive, but have often flourished. This tenacious effort has also widely contributed to the general welfare of their communities.

How do they do it? Who knows the answer? Determination? Good Service? Dependability? Trust? Business Acumen? Plain hard work?

What ever the reason, we can only hope they will continue the entrepreneurial effort that has made small towns so essential to American life.

The Answer Man will appear on occasion in the Daily Dunklin Democrat, and will provide answers to various and sundry questions about local people, etc. Readers are invited to submit their queries to The Answer Man by e-mailing them to bhunt@dddnews.com.