Main Street/Shop Local

On Tuesday, February 1, four ABA member booksellers braved threats of an impending blizzard and joined other retailers in a meeting with members of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s office to urge the governor to sign HB3659, sales tax fairness legislation.

For the fourth year in a row, a national survey of independent businesses has found that those in communities with active “buy local” campaigns have experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to those located in areas without such initiatives.

A new study presented at the first-ever national meeting of leaders of independent, local, and community-based businesses has ranked more than 300 U.S. metropolitan areas according to the vitality of independent retail.

ABA is encouraging members to participate in the fourth annual post-holiday survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self Reliance in partnership with ABA and other indie business groups. The survey provides data on how independent businesses are faring in today’s economy, as well as about whether people are more aware and supportive of locally owned, independent businesses.

Leaders from trade associations and other organizations representing independent businesses will come together on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, in Washington, D.C., for the Advocates for Independent Retail (AIR) Summit, organized by the American Booksellers Association.

Local businesses, community organizations, and independent alliances are gearing up to celebrate America Unchained! Day on Saturday, November 20. The annual event encourages consumers to devote an entire day to shopping locally.

Brookline, Massachusetts, home of Brookline Booksmith, now offers a debit card to promote local shopping.

American Express OPEN has joined with advocacy groups and public and private organizations to declare the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. The first 10,000 business owners who sign up for Small Business Saturday will receive $100 in free Facebook advertising.

Durham, North Carolina, is getting its own local first organization thanks to the efforts of The Regulator Bookshop’s Tom Campbell. Independent Durham already has more than 20 retailer members and will launch its first campaign the week after Thanksgiving.

The American Independent Business Alliance Campaigns to Become “Unchained” on November 20; The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Urges a Week of Buying Local from November 26 - December 5.