The American Independent Business Alliance
In 1998, two residents of Boulder, Colorado, became concerned about the affect big chain stores were having on local businesses and the character of their community. They organized likeminded...
View ArticleTen New Studies of the “Local Economic Premium”
Source: AMIBA Since 2002, a growing number of studies have quantified the local economic benefits delivered by independent businesses, demonstrating locally-owned independent businesses return much...
View ArticleMassachusetts program helps banks lend to local businesses
Source: The Republican (via AMIBA) By: Jim Kinney SPRINGFIELD — The family behind Fernandez Family Restaurant in Holyoke is expanding, adding a banquet hall at the former Adelphia Restaurant in South...
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7 Ways Businesses Can Counter Showrooming
Source: American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) By: Casey Woods and Jeff Milchen A customer walks into your place of business, pulls out their phone and starts taking pictures or scanning UPC...
View ArticleWhy Buy From an Independent Store Instead of a Big Box Chain?
Not so long ago, the future of successful independent stores was grim. Their inability to compete with the purchasing power of national chains and big box stores seemed to indicate the inevitable...
View ArticleTop Influencers of the Buy Local Movement
As the ‘buy local’ movement continues to grow, we’re taking a look at some of the movement’s most powerful pioneers. Throughout the country, there are lots of hardworking men and women helping to...
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Teaching Kids the Value of Going Local
Source: American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) By: April Atwood The “support local” message is catching on more than ever in America and as we continue to become better educated regarding the...
View ArticleIndependent We Stand Joins National Indie Business Coalition
Independent We Stand has joined the Advocates for Independent Business (AIB), a new coalition of trade associations and other groups dedicated to ensuring that locally owned, independent businesses...
View Article3 Takeaways from the 2013 National Independent Business Survey
The results of the 2013 National Independent Business Survey are in – and with great news for small businesses nationwide. After surveying more than 2,600 independent businesses nationwide, the...
View ArticleShop Local Raleigh Makes the Most of Local Connections
As the capital of North Carolina, the city of Raleigh combines a rich history with government, diversity and modern-day businesses. Shop Local Raleigh makes the most of the city’s opportunities for...
View ArticleInfluential Buy Local Campaigns – Part Two
By Alex Gladu, IWS Content Team There’s Small Business Saturday, Record Store Day and Independents Week, but we couldn’t fail to mention a few more leading buy local campaigns. Whether they’re...
View ArticleCambridge Local First: Innovating for the Entire Community
By Alex Gladu, Independent We Stand Founded in 2005 by a small group of active local business owners, Cambridge Local First (CLF) has always been ahead of the curve. Now, the group’s latest innovation...
View ArticleAsheville Grown Spreads Local Love Around Town
By Alex Gladu, Writer, Independent We Stand Located amidst the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina, is known for its distinct local charm. It’s a combination of the modern and...
View ArticleOakland Grown Makes the Most of March
March has been a busy month for local businesses in Oakland, California. They’re celebrating the start of spring and everything else March has to offer, and they’re encountering a new regulation: an...
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Nominations for the 2015 Indie Awards are Now Being Accepted!
By Emily Brown, Intern, Independent We Stand In a world of big-box chains and franchises, local businesses stand out among the competition. Local businesses serve as the heartbeat of a city and help...
View ArticleGo Local Tacoma Trains Small Business Owners To Succeed
From Starbucks to Expedia, Washington has had its fair share of small businesses hit it big. Even still, an active and passionate group of small business owners and advocates in Tacoma know the value...
View ArticleKeep It Querque Helps New Mexico Businesses Stand Out
By Alex Gladu, Independent We Stand Keep It Querque may have been modeled on a similar business alliance in a different city, but now it’s all about being unique. The buy local group in Albuquerque,...
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Small Biz Tip of the Month: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Buy Local Groups
There’s no denying that buy local groups can – and do – enhance a community. In communities across the country, these groups of small businesses provide a framework for promoting the buy local movement...
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Community-Owned Businesses Bring Local Residents Together For More Than Profits
It’s the time of year when communities come together – to celebrate the holidays, to bring warmth to neighbors in need and to look ahead to a new year. While important, that community togetherness...
View ArticleInfluential Buy Local Campaigns – Part Two
By Alex Gladu, IWS Content Team There’s Small Business Saturday, Record Store Day and Independents Week, but we couldn’t fail to mention a few more leading buy local campaigns. Whether they’re...
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