America Unchained Set for Saturday, November 18

On Saturday, November 18, communities across the country will celebrate America Unchained! -- a national public education event sponsored by the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) that urges consumers to "unchain themselves" by shopping only at locally owned independent businesses for the entire day. Independent retailers, business alliances, and trade associations can sign up for the third annual event through the AMIBA website, www.amiba.net/Unchained.html, to gain access to templates for posters, a logo, button designs, press releases, and more for local customization.

Building on Civic Economics' Andersonville Study and Economic Impact Analysis -- A Case Study: Local Merchants vs. Chain Retailers, which found that local independent retailers return more economic value to communities than chain retailers, America Unchained is urging consumers to stop imagining the impact if everyone shopped locally owned and to make it a reality.

America Unchained also encourages retailers and participating organizations to contact local media to get the word out that by shopping at locally owned businesses consumers can maximize the impact of their dollars and inject potentially millions of dollars more into their local economy.

By conducting this campaign on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, AMIBA aims to emphasize to consumers that by shopping locally they will be giving a gift to their communities, too. (Read more.)