How Your Business and Community Can Benefit From Organizing an Independent Business Alliance
Only the best-run retailers are likely to survive through our current economic challenges, but running an outstanding business by itself may not be adequate. The competitors of independent bookstores long have partnered with other chain retailers and online merchants by selling gift cards in each others' businesses, cross-promoting, offering loyalty credits and more.
Thankfully, Independent Business Alliances provide independent business owners many of those same advantages, along with additional benefits. These include: facilitating group purchasing to save money for members, building a strong collective brand, executing public education campaigns to promote the value of local business locally, and effecting local policy to support local independent business.
These Alliances have been employed successfully in communities of all sizes, demographics and ideologies -- many of them instigated by independent booksellers. In fact the first IBA was co-founded by David Bolduc of the Boulder Book Store and (along with Jeff Milchen, who went on to help organize the American Independent Business Alliance).
Steve Bercu, owner of Austin's Book People and president of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, says, "The IBA is where my self-interest and my social interest intersect." Our paths crossed with booksellers before AMIBA formed.
Through the sponsorship of NAIBA and Bookazine, you can gain AMIBA's personal support and a wide array of materials to get an IBA started in your community for just $350 -- a fraction of the normal $950 cost. And for those with strong interest, but who lack the critical mass of support to form an organization, NAIBA members may arrange community presentations and trainings from AMIBA that have helped jump-start many local Alliances at a 50% discount.
Find IBAs in your state
AMIBA also may have received other inquiries from your community contact them to find out. Learn more by visiting AMIBA's website or contacting them at 406-582-1255 or info@AMIBA.net.
Download a pdf of Main Street News magazine that features the AMIBA guide on building effective Buy Independent/Buy Local campaigns.
About the American Independent Business Alliance
AMIBA is a national 501c3 non-profit organization helping communities to launch and successfully operate Independent Business Alliances, Buy Local campaigns, and other efforts to support community enterprise. These groups work to build vital local economies based on independent, locally-owned businesses and prevent chain proliferation and other trends from displacing local entrepreneurs. IBAs unite locally-owned independent businesses, citizens and community organizations to achieve this goal while promoting citizen engagement in community development. AMIBA is a coalition of, by, and for the community organization members.
Since 2001, we've helped launch more than 60 IBAs and dozens more Buy Local campaigns in a diverse range of communities nationwide, and are playing a crucial role in keeping opportunities alive for entrepreneurs. We help local groups to engage in three realms:
- Public education about the greater overall value local independents often can provide (even when they are not the cheapest) as well as the vital economic, social and cultural role independent businesses play in the community.
- Cooperative promotion, advertising, purchasing and other activities to help local businesses gain economies of scale and compete more effectively.
- Creating a strong and uncompromised voice for local independents in the local government and media.
Click here for some links for Localization.
|
