NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2005
Contact :
Jennifer Rockne, Director, American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) 406-582-1255, Jennifer@AMIBA.net
Jeff Milchen, Outreach Director 406-582-1255, Jeff@AMIBA.net
CELEBRATING OUR INDEPENDENTS!
BOZEMAN , MT — The American Independent Business Alliance ( AMIBA) declares the week of July 1-7 Independents Week. Communities nationwide and even some state governors have issued proclamations recognizing the economic and social importance of locally-owned independent businesses.
“It’s a time to highlight the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating our nation’s locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their home town’s future,” according to AMIBA director Jennifer Rockne.
The 16 Independent Business Alliances around the country help independent, community-based businesses to compete effectively with corporate chains and prevent chains from displacing hometown businesses. Independents Week helps demonstrate the way citizens, home town businesses and local governments are interwoven in the community. “We have a reason to celebrate—these friends and neighbors embody the individual character in our communities—they are invested because they are citizens, too, participating along side us in daily community life.”
The number of independent businesses has dropped significantly since 1990. According to the New Rules Project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (NewRules.org):
- over 40 percent of the nation’s independent bookstores have been lost to the increase in large chain bookstores, internet sales and now mass discount stores.
- over 11,000 independent pharmacies have closed (the number of indies actually stabilized and even grew a bit during the last few years).
- Two home improvement chains account for almost 50% of all hardware and building supply sales.
- Five grocery chains now garner 46% of all grocery sales, a figure that’s doubled in the last six years.
"With growing concern about the 'Wal-martization' of the American economy, Independents Week reminds us that one of the best things we can do for our communities and local economies is to shift more of our spending to locally owned businesses," stated Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher for the New Rules Project.
The national event kicked off June 26 with a book signing hosted by the Austin IBA in Texas by acclaimed San Antonio author Naomi Shihab Nye, whose new youth novel, Going Going, involves a girl’s campaign to save independent businesses in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas.
Independents Week celebrants can engage in community events and activities. Some local groups have posed the Indie Challenge to city councilors and community members -- to shop only locally-owned for the week – as a contest. In Albuquerque , the winner will receive a freezer filled with a year’s supply of green chili. In addition, many Independents Week participants have gained proclamations from city and state governments, including, among others, New Mexico, Nevada, and Virginia declaring recognition of independent businesses and the event.
Independents Week endorsers include the New Rules Project, American Specialty Toy Retail Association (ASTRA), American Booksellers Association (ABA), Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA), Council of Independent Restaurants of America (CIRA), the National Main Streets Center, the Virginia Main Streets Program and numerous individual independent businesses. Please see our website for a list of participating communities.
Additional contacts:
Stacy Mitchell New Rules Project 207-774-6792
Oren Teicher American Booksellers Association 914 591-2665, ext. 1267
Kathleen McHugh American Specialty Toy Retailing Assn. 847-375-4842
John Hawks Association of Retail Travel Agents 859-269-9739
Sarah Pope Virginia Main Streets Program 804-371-7121
Naomi Shihab Nye Harper Collins Publishing (Colleen Schwartz, publicist) 212-261-6792