The New York Times has a great article – Small Retailers Open Up Storefronts on Facebook Pages – that contains real world examples of small businesses using Facebook for commerce, a term known as “f-commerce.” The article asserts that small businesses are experiencing greater success than their larger counterparts.

Small businesses seem to be having more success on Facebook than large companies, said Sucharita Mulpuru, a retail analyst at Forrester. Those doing well, she said, generally have less than $100,000 in revenue and fewer than 10 employees. Gap, Nordstrom, J. C. Penney and GameStop, on the other hand, have all shut down Facebook stores in the last 12 months, mostly, Ms. Mulpuru said, because consumers are accustomed to the richer experience on retailing Web sites.

Despite the challenges presented to small business owners as it relates to their use of social media marketing and, now, social commerce – time constraints, budget limitations, personnel resources – I’ve always believed they stand the best chance for success to maximize its potential. The Times article seems to attest to that, as well. Good for the NY Times and good for small business.