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Our newest video features Travis Grimes of Husk Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina as he talks about the importance of local food.
This year, the average person will spend $106.49 on Father’s Day gifts for an estimated total of $11.1 billion according to the National Retail Federation.
Local businesses may wonder how they can compete with big box stores – they have larger budgets, longer hours and more advertising. For The Mower Shop owner, Brian Humbert, the answer is simple: local businesses have more knowledge of their products, better service and customer support. Big box stores may have an impact, but “we’ve certainly found out, through the years, that we can compete,” said Humbert. And their ability to compete helps boost their local economy.
The Washington-based association says Americans will spend an average of $106.49 on Father’s Day gifts this year, up from $94.32 in 2010, and the highest in the eight years the survey has been conducted.
This ground breaking 2008 study by Civic Economics for Local Works predicted the following impact to the West Michigan economy if consumers shifted just 10% of their spending from national chains to locally-owned businesses: Over 1,600 new jobs $137 million in new economic activity Over $50 million in new wages Imagine the impact if they shifted 15% or 20%? For an executive summary of the study click here.
Goverline is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in Jacksonville, Fla. founded by its CEO John Melia. John is retired Marine who was injured in a helicopter crash in 1992 off the coast of Somalia and to say he cares deeply about his fellow disabled veterans is an understatement.
Please help us spread about the economic impact of buying local by posting the Independent We Stand logo on your website with a link back to our website. You can find the code you’ll need in the Download Materials Resources page of our website. Just look in the Member Badge section. If you have any issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@IndependentWeStand.org
Shopping at locally owned businesses is easy. So next time you’re out and about, getting ready to do some shopping, please think local. Here are ten examples: 1) Buy a book at a neighborhood book store. 2) Eat lunch at a local sub shop. 3) Purchase a birthday present at a local gift shop. 4) Buy ingredients for your next family dinner at a farmer’s market. 5) Work off that…read more →
Within its historic community of San Marco in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, Bistro AIX, in operation for nearly 13 years, exemplifies what the spirit of being local and independent truly means.
Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison and members of this committee, my name is Mike Rowe, and I want to thank you all very much for the opportunity to testify before you today. Read more…
