Independent retailers know the year-round challenges of competing with chain businesses such as discount stores and online behemoths.  It’s only fitting that we get an annual holiday — Independents Week — to “recognizes small businesses’ contributions to the community.”

This quote comes from the founder of Independents Week, AMIBA (the American Independence Business Alliance), a non-profit organization helping communities build and sustain opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Independents Week is an AMIBA effort “to bring citizens in touch with local businesses to build relationships, awareness, and shift spending behavior.”  The organization offers templates for posters, web banners (such as the one above) and social media postings as well as many ideas for spreading the word about the value of independent businesses. These tools are available for free to everyone, not just AMIBA members.

There is nothing particularly significant about the week of 4th of July when it comes to independent businesses — after all, the British have small shops too — but as with all PR campaigns, it helps to have a hook.  The concept of Independents Week can give local media a reason to focus on the value of locally owned stores, and the importance of supporting them by spending dollars in the community.

We are part of Dane Buy Local, which is an AMIBA affiliate, and each member is being asked to come up with a special offer or event. This is a great idea, because it will give customers a reason to patronize our business beyond thinking “it’s the right thing to do”.  We haven’t come up with a detailed plan yet, but we want to use this campaign as an opportunity to promote our store as a Buy Local Wedding Registry. What will you do to get customers excited about your independence story?

Happy Retailing,

Carol “Orange” Schroeder