AMIBA's Independents Week to Start July 1

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) -- a national outreach networking hub and resource center for independent business alliances (IBAs) and independent businesses -- has once again declared July 1 through July 7 Independents Week. The second annual national weeklong promotion serves to educate the public on the importance of shopping at local, independent businesses.

"It's a time to highlight the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating our nation's locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their hometown's future," said AMIBA director Jennifer Rockne.

The idea for Independents Week was first developed four years ago in Tampa, Florida, by the owners of Inkwood Books, who placed that month's Book Sense 76 titles on sale for the July 4th week. The response to the sales event was so strong that, by 2003, about 20 local businesses were participating in the Tampa promotion, which urged community members to "celebrate our nation's independence [by] celebrating your independents -- for all your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs."

Today, the nationwide Independents Week comprises many individual local community events held across the country. "This is our second year coordinating Independents Week and interest in participating keeps increasing," Rockne reported. "It's something that any independent business can get involved in, whether solo or by getting other indies to do it as a group.... Participants can do as much or little as they want -- the point is that we get lots of folks involved." AMIBA will again garner national media attention for Independents Week and has provided its members with templates for press releases, as well as graphics for the event.

In Austin, Texas, the Austin Independent Business Alliance (AIBA) will kick off Independence Week at BookPeople, where it will host a book reading and signing by author Naomi Shihab Nye. Nye's new YA novel, Going Going (Greenwillow), involves a girl's campaign to save independent businesses in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. "It would be impossible to find something more on point," said Steve Bercu, president and co-owner of BookPeople and AIBA president. "It's like she wrote it for this event." The IBA will host events at various member businesses throughout the week.

Bercu sees Independents Week as an ideal way to remind customers about the value of independent businesses, especially since it generates a lot of media attention. "The purpose of the week and of Unchained Day is so people don't get complacent and think everyone already knows about independent businesses," he said. "It helps to keep people talking and thinking about shopping locally owned businesses."

In addition to the Nye reading, BookPeople will hold promotions throughout the week. The store will be offering discounts and hold an author event with Bruce Campbell (Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, Thomas Dunne).

In St. Louis, Missouri, Left Bank Books and Subterranean Books are taking part in a big "Celebrate Your Independents!" event held at the Maplewood Schlafly Bottleworks in St. Louis. Over 50 booths will be showcasing St. Louis independent businesses and restaurants. Local live music will be included, along with computer recycling, children's activities, and a documentary screening of Smith Hardware: Help Is Just Around The Corner. The film documents the final days of the closing of a 75-year-old hardware store and demonstrates the plight of the independent business owner.

Kris Kleindienst of Left Bank Books said that, for the public, an event like "Celebrate Your Independents!" can be "very energizing and empowering to see that there's a face on St. Louis." She noted that getting interesting, local, independently owned businesses together for a daylong celebration shows customers that they could still experience a strong sense of community in an "otherwise impersonal world." Kleindienst planned on providing fliers that detail some of the contributions to the community made by the bookstore.

"Many customers say that they want to support local businesses, but they don't know what the benefits are," said Kleindienst. Independents Week works to make those benefits more tangible, she said. "When we take the opportunity to give out information on how we help the community, the response is always fantastic and it grows exponentially."

Rockne suggested that Independents Week celebrants could engage in scavenger hunts for prizes, community picnics, musical events, in-store activities, and more. Some participating groups have posed the Indie Challenge to their city councillors and community members -- to shop only at locally-owned businesses for the week -- as a contest. In Albuquerque, the winner will receive a freezer filled with a year's supply of green chili.

In addition, many Independents Week participants have gained formal declarations from their city and state governments declaring July 1 through 7 Independents Week. Such proclamations are "a cornerstone of Independents Week," said Rockne, and added that AMIBA provides to participants the "template language to customize and submit [to local politicians]." AMIBA has succeeded in securing declarations, and participants are encouraged to create a media event out of getting a proclamation. "This year we're aiming for state-level proclamations. So far, we know that Virginia's governor has given one, and prospects are good for Nevada and New Mexico. Montana's governor bestowed a letter of commendation for the work of our IBA in Bozeman."

Bercu told BTW that he hopes other booksellers mark the week in some way and noted that to participate, "It could be as simple as just saying you're celebrating Independents Week. Take whatever event you're having that week and declare that it's in celebration of Independents. You don't need to bring in the president or anything."

All told, at least 15 independent business alliances will participate in the promotion, as will other organizations, including the New Rules Project, the American Specialty Toy Retail Association (ASTRA), the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA), the Council of Independent Restaurants of America (CIRA), the National Main Streets Center, the Virginia Main Streets Program, and numerous individual independent businesses.

For more information about Independents Week, including a list of participating communities, visit http://www.amiba.net/independents_week.html. To obtain templates for local or state Independents Week proclamations, or to ask questions about AMIBA or Independents Week, contact Jennifer Rockne at (406) 582-1255 or [email protected]. --Karen Schechner