Raise your hand if you were sitting around this morning shopping for a new yacht, or a private jet to match the one you already got your spouse for the holidays… Ya, me neither. But here are some things I did buy this week: gas, groceries, office supplies, and even a few new socks.

The point to be made here is that even though the economy is slow, there are some things I that you and I still buy. And regardless of whether you sell to businesses or consumers, there are things your customers are still buying, too. One of the best ways to stay afloat and grow your business in a recession is finding those everyday staples and using them as a springboard to something bigger.

Think about it this way: making small sales is usually a lot easier than making big ones. But if you can get your foot in the door, no matter if it’s $10 or $10 million, then you get a chance to show the people who buy from you what kind of pricing and services you can give. Pretty soon, that one small order could turn into two or three, along with a referral to somebody else who has a little bit of business to do.

Are all of these tiny orders going to make you wealthy? In most industries, probably not. But they will keep the cash register ringing, and keep you in a strong selling rhythm. Besides, when the economy starts to turn around, who do you think these folks will turn to for their bigger purchases? Some vendor they found on the internet, or the committed professional who stuck with them and did the hard work with them while they were struggling through a recession?

Remember, there are three parts to selling in a recession: adapting your approach, outselling the competition, and positioning yourself for the future. Making small sales is a great way to do all three at once.