2011 Survey Results: A Decent Year for Indie Business Overall -- a Great Year for Those Involved in IBAs!

The fifth annual post-holiday survey of independent businesses by Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance yielded powerful evidence that pro-local attitudes are growing and Independent Business Alliances (IBAs) and similarly-modeled community organizations are yielding greater benefit than ever for their members.

The survey tallied responses from 1768 businesses, all independent and locally-owned, across 49 states. About half were retailers. Among the notable results:

• A larger share (61%) of respondents reported revenue growth in 2011 compared to 2010.
• Independent retailers enjoyed stronger holiday sales than the retail sector as a whole. While overall holiday sales were up 4.1% in 2011, respondents reported an average increase of 6.7%.
• More than three-quarters of businesses surveyed said that public awareness of the benefits of supporting local independent had increased in the last year.

Click here for a print quality pdf.

Here's the result that suggests the value of IBAs' educational activities: Independent businesses in communities with an active "buy indie/buy local" campaign run by a local business/citizen alliance saw revenues grow 7.2% in 2011, compared to 2.6% for those in areas without an alliance.

Congratulations to all alliance leaders for this reinforcement of your great work! Use these results to trumpet your success to local media outlets or to inspire the formation of an IBA if your community does not yet have one. 

We've created a press release template, including a graph with multi-year results to help you generate regional media coverage. Make sure you pitch radio and television as well as print. The graphics in the report can be enlarged for TV or community presentations. Read the full ILSR report or learn more about waging an effective buy local campaign.

We're thrilled to announce Stacy Mitchell has confirmed plans to speak about this growing body of research and other topics at the Go Local, Grow Local conference in Louisville--see below.

2012 Conference Agenda Posted. Three weeks left to enjoy earlybird discount!

Make your plans to join us in Louisville. Go Local, Grow Local: Building Community Prosperity from Within is just two months away! (March 29-April 1).

Filled with interactive sessions that provide concrete tools to implement at home, AMIBA's conference draws raves from past participants. Presenters will include Big Box Swindle author, Stacy Mitchell; BALLE co-founder, Laury Hammel, and IBA pioneers, Jeff Milchen and Jennifer Rockne (more announcements shortly).

A preliminary schedule is posted here. You'll save $100 when you register by February 15. We suggest booking your room at the beautiful Galt House early to get a river-view room or suite. We now have a Facebook event page -- see a few of those who'll be joining you in Louisville and add your name (See "events" after clicking "more" on left column of our Facebook page).

Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities. If you'd like your company featured in front of business leaders from across the continent, see the sponsor and exhibitor packets. Thanks to initial sponsors, the City and Vistor's Center of Louisville, W.G. Ellerkamp & Co. and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

New AMIBA Affiliates

2012 got off to a fast start with three new affiliates in the first three weeks! Welcome to:

• Let's Buy Local (Central RI)
• Cambridge Local First (MA)
• Front Royal Independent Business Alliance (VA)

New Resources for Affiliates

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Examples of Executive Director evaluation forms

Examples of IBAs having received City funding (amount, duration, stipulations, etc.)

Join Us at a Upcoming Events or Use the New Survey to Garner Support for Your Own Local Presentation

Join AMIBA on the road for February events in NV, CA, NM and CO or schedule one of your own. The compelling new data above provides you great evidence to generate local government and institutional support to host a local event to catalyze your own campaign. We now are scheduling spring events for California and most of the Eastern U.S. Learn more or contact us for costs and available dates in your area.

We'll publish a more extensive newsletter in early February and, as always, we welcome your success stories to report there and via our rapidly growing social media networks (click icons below). Share the great news! If you're not yet a subscriber, just use the form in the right column of any page at AMIBA.net.