Independent business group gains steam
Concord Journal
By Jenny Goodrich/Contributing Writer
Concord - The idea of corporation is ever blossoming — chain stores of every specialty run rampant in the most remote corners of the world. While this makes for convenient and reliable shopping, some argue the costs — especially the bankruptcy of independent businesses and loss of local character — are too great. Concord’s independent business owners have stepped up to make sure this particular turn of events never happens to one of America’s most historic towns.
June 19 marked the official formation of Concord’s Independent Business Alliance, known as the IBA. Forty-two local businesses and community members got together with one goal in mind — to promote awareness for locally owned stores and businesses.
The first major step taken towards this goal was July’s Independence week. July 1-4 marked the campaign for Concord’s independent businesses. Stores put up stickers stating, “Thank you for choosing local business” on their doors, along with a list of benefits that come from supporting these stores. To further involve customers, the Concord IBA organized a sort of treasure hunt. Businesses handed out maps portraying all participating stores in grid format. Customers would then have to seek out the stores on the grid and find an item from each to finish the hunt. Although the first weeks of July are traditionally slow for business, such activities aided Concord businesses financially and in terms of general awareness.
“People didn’t even know where some of these stores were,” said Independent’s Week sponsor Peggy McGillin. “It was, overall a huge success.”
The general welfare of the Concord IBA is just as healthy as the outcome of Independent’s Week — plans for more events in the fall, such as a sidewalk sale, are already in motion. All are also free to submit taglines for the Concord IBA to Debra Stark at Debra’s Natural Gourmet.
The very next step for the IBA, however, lies in a directory of all independent businesses in Concord. Owners are invited to write a 200-word description about their businesses that can be submitted through the IBA Web site, www.concordiba.org. The directory will, upon completion, be mailed to every homeowner in Concord and Carlisle.
In these early stages, the IBA has received great support and enthusiasm from the community.
“I think we’re definitely going to be a force to help maintain the strength of Concord,” said McGillin. “We’re already benefiting from a greater buying and spending power, sense of community, and awareness of supporting local businesses. It’s really a win-win situation for everybody.”
Independent business owners are welcome to join the IBA, provided they meet a set of criteria provided on the Web site.
With the continued support of the local businesses and the town as a whole, supporters hope the IBA can save Concord from a decidedly commercial fate.
“In the face of competition from giant corporations and the Internet,” said Save Our Heritage’s Kati Winchell, “it’s important that we work together in order to grow as a community.”
© 2008 Concord Journal
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