Studies that measure the impact that a mass merchandiser like Wal-Mart has on small retailers have shown that small stores usually ______.

A) go out of business
B) stay in business but make minor profits
C) outperform Wal-Mart
D) benefit as long as they stock different merchandise

Studies have shown that small retailers can coexist with large mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart by differentiating their product offerings. By stocking different merchandise, they can cater to niche markets or provide specialized services that large chains do not, thus maintaining their customer base and potentially benefiting from the increased traffic generated by the presence of a large retailer.