Small Unique Businesses

New York Originals
The award-winning PBS series profiles mom and pop retailers that point out a number of takeaway lessons:

All skills cannot be outsourced overseas
You can compete successfully against cheaply made imported products if you counter with quality and skill and if there are enough people willing to pay for a quality product. See Embee Sunshade. They made a custom product for Oprah.
Long established businesses provide an overview of how changes in the economy affect choices and decisions of the self-employed. For example: Bellitte Bikes
And what are the unique, small businesses in your area?

References
New York Originals Online video 27 min
Season 1
http://newyorkoriginalsonline.com/Season_1_Links.html