In these tough times, most companies are slowing their growth as they wait for sales to pick up. But one Richmond-based retailer is among the handful that is actually expanding. Pleasants Hardware, which traces its roots in the Richmond area back to 1915, has opened its eighth store. “We saw this as a good time and a good opportunity for us,“ said James T. Hatcher III, Pleasants’ president, adding that the economic downturn actually helped in this case.

As small-business owners are dealing with unprecedented challenges in the economy, more of them are looking for advice on what they can do to get by and even thrive. The Richmond Times-Dispatch went straight to the source by talking with four area small-business owners who are adjusting and growing in this environment. The four discussed some strategies that may be of benefit to other business owners.

The book business isn’t easy these days. With competition from big-chain and Internet booksellers, independent bookstores have been struggling for years. Now, the new world of book selling has claimed another casualty.