Tired of hearing about people in your community or state or good old USA getting laid off? Maybe we can do something about that by buying local. Let those other countries handle their own financial and job issues – we’ve got our own big problems to worry about!
Buying Local to Benefit Both Consumers and Communities
Several blocks away from my home on the south end of Detroit you’ll find an indie toy store that has saved me many times with last minute gift needs. The well-informed owners sell everything from stuffed animals to high quality European metal toys and science kits to dress-up costumes for kids. Most importantly of all though — even more important than their extensive inventory of common and hard to find toys — is the fact that they’ve put such a great focus on service. That’s something you just can’t find in many of the cut-rate, low cost stores.
“Indie shopping” is a conscientious effort to patronize independents, or locally owned businesses, over chain stores when it’s possible to do so. “Buy Local” campaigns draw the support of like-minded citizens and community groups, particularly as businesses and consumers continue their slow crawl from recession. The pro-indie argument usually centers on community benefits, from social interaction to tax revenues. There’s an impact on the wallet as well.
Chain patrons typically cite prices and product variety when they opt for big-box stores. Internet shoppers do so for convenience. Plus, many individuals who might make the choice to shop locally find themselves forced to hit the chains, as downtowns and neighborhood shopping clusters have shrunk dramatically over the past two generations. That’s true of both small towns and bigger cities.
But comparison shopping between independent businesses and chains is about “overall value, not just price,” says Jeff Milchen, co-founder and outreach director at the American Independent Business Alliance. “There are other factors, such as service, selection, durability. You have to look at the lifespan of products before determining whether they are more expensive than at chain stores” where higher sales volume tends to lower price tags.
Milchen recalls his time in the landscape industry. He learned that the higher-end makes and models, and accompanying service, of lawnmowers he bought through a locally owned seller topped what he assumed to be a more appealing cost option at a home-improvement chain.
The energy costs typically associated with shopping at big shopping complexes or standalone chains must also be accounted for. “We’ve been increasing our driving significantly over the past several decades, and it’s due almost entirely to shopping,” says Milchen. “Plus, time is money.”
Advocates say the decision to buy locally should be a lifestyle choice that reflects a commitment to the community. In one measure of community impact, a consultancy firm in 2006 ran a stuf of local retail economics in the Detroit area. The study looked at the economic impact of a dozen local businesses in a local Detroit district and compared them to chain businesses in the same area. The study’s findings were that of every one hundred dollars spent at local businesses, close to seventy of those dollars stay in the local economy. Conversely, of that same amount spent at a chain store, only about forty dollars remains in the local economy. For every square foot occupied by a local firm, the local economic impact is well over $150. For every square foot occupied by a chain firm, local economic impact is closer to just $100.
BOSTYX – Boston Tribute Band and Styx Tribute Band
What do you have once you put together both exceptional American timeless rock artists Boston and Styx into one act? You get BOSTYX, California’s incredibly unique tribute to the feel-good and highly-polished hit music that dominated the air during the 1970s and 1980s. BOSTYX delivers homage to the songs and feel of the two American pop-rock music icons Boston and Styx with a high-energy performance that will be certain to please Rock and Roll admirers. You can support Southern California, and support local bands and music, by visiting the BOSTYX site to check out their event schedule.
Perhaps no two 1970′s period artists more effectively defined the all-American very good summer classic rock and roll tone more than Boston and Styx. These two artists took rock and roll music to places it had never been, with a highly-polished sound and radio-friendly, by means of vocals and harmonies that set the standard for each prominent classic rock band that succeeded.
Today BOSTYX re-creates the amazing tunes of these two traditional rock symbols with a full complement of first class musicians, recreating Boston’s soaring guitar harmonies and lightning-fast keyboard runs as well as the lush background vocals and theatrical style of Styx. Handling the textured lead vocals of Styx co-founder Dennis DeYoung is multi-skilled drummer and lead vocalist Glenn Jost. And lead vocalist and guitarist David Victor manages the vocals of two of the best-loved rock tenors of all-time, Boston’s Brad Delp and Styx’s Tommy Shaw.
BOSTYX faithfully carries out the most loved hits of these two spectacular American traditional rock and roll acts including “The Best Of Times”, “Lady”, “Peace Of Mind”, “More Than A Feeling”, “Renegade”, “Blue Collar Man”, “Don’t Look Back”, “Foreplay/Long Time” as well as many others.
Certainly, BOSTYX can be described as a vintage rock Boston tribute band and Styx tribute band having a dazzling future, and they are an excellent supplement to every summer classic rock and roll lineup with songs certain to thrill any audience. Make certain you treat everybody to this impressive tribute to the classic songs of Boston and Styx! BOSTYX is additionally available as an “unplugged” acoustic act for venues and functions with lower volume level necessities. BOSTYX’s acoustic performance truly highlights the impressive vocal melodies and harmonies and is ideal for weddings, quieter clubs, private parties or any type of mellow affair.
Study Confirms “Buy Local” Sales Message Helping Indie Businesses
Once again, for the third year running, a nationwide study of independent businesses finds that people in areas with an effective “buy local” promotion have noticed noticeably more robust sales revenue improvement in comparison to people situated in places with no such advertising campaign.
The survey, which was conducted over an 7 day period in January, gathered data from 3,100 independent businesses, including retailers, service providers, restaurants and others. It found that those in places with a “buy local” initiative reported revenue growth of 4.8% on average in 2011, compared to 1.9% for those elsewhere.
Among independent retailers, which accounted for nearly half the respondents, there was a similar gap in holiday sales performance, with those in “buy local” communities seeing a 4.9% increase in holiday sales, while those elsewhere reported an average gain of 0.9%.
“Buy local” campaigns run by Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups are now underway in about 130 cities across the nation.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said that public awareness of the benefits of supporting locally owned businesses had increased in the last year, while 26% said it had stayed the same and only 4% said it had gone down.
Business owners in cities with active “buy local” campaigns reported a wide range of positive impacts on their business. Almost half reported that the campaign had brought new customers to their business and 52% said it had made existing customers more loyal. More than two-thirds said local media coverage of independent businesses had increased and 50% said that local government officials were now more aware and supportive of the needs of independent businesses.
Comments from survey participants highlighted key challenges facing independent businesses, including the weak economy and government policies that often favor their large competitors. Yet businesses active in “buy local” initiatives repeatedly cited these efforts as making a difference in their survival and success. “It is abundantly clear to me that a greater percentage of the public is attuned to the value of supporting local independents compared to just a couple years ago,” noted one Arizona business owner.
The survey was conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research and educational organization, in partnership with dozens of national and local business organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, Alliance of Independent Media Stores, American Independent Business Alliance, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, National Bicycle Dealers Association, and TriMega Purchasing Association.
Similar surveys over the last three years likewise found that independent businesses in cities with active “buy local” campaigns reported stronger sales gains than those in communities without such initiatives.
“This kind of study enhances the expanding kind of facts that individuals are more and more searching for indie companies and that change has a concrete effect on the results,” said Roger Kiminski, an experienced researcher with the Self Reliance Institute.