Independents Week Takes on Life of Its Own

In 2003, during the week of the Fourth of July, some 20 independent businesses in Tampa, Florida, led by Inkwood Books, joined together for a weeklong sales event to promote and celebrate independent businesses. Some five years later, Independents Week has become a nationwide event that "has taken on a life of its own," said Jennifer Rockne, director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), the sponsor of the event for the past four years. This year's celebration will run from Sunday, July 1, through Saturday, July 7, with more than 20 communities taking part.

"I am genuinely and delightfully surprised by how group activities have evolved over the years," said Rockne. "Someone's efforts may start out simple, but [over the years] they will bring in local officials, for example. Independents Week is a nice stepping stone to cultivating continued involvement with local government."

The key focus of the weeklong promotion is to educate the public about the importance of shopping at locally owned, independent businesses.

Joci Tilsen of The Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, Minnesota, told BTW, "We use [Independents Week] to inspire more people to be more intentional about their shopping. We are in a Main Street town that will die if the residents don't care to shop here. We can't survive on tourism alone."

As part of its festivities, Valley Bookseller will be holding a sale from July 1 through July 5. In addition, at 7:00 p.m. on July 5, the store will feature a reading and autographing event with Deborah Keenan, author of Willow Room, Green Door: New and Selected Poems (Milkweed Editions) and Carols Muske-Dukes, author of Channeling Mark Twain (Random House).

Looking to the future, Tilsen hopes to start up a Stillwater branch of the Metro Independent Business Alliance. "Three businesses in town [are] currently members, and I would like to add five more to that, so we can begin to organize," she said.

Booktenders' Secret Garden Children's Bookstore and Gallery in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is part of the newly formed Shop Local/Dine Local subcommittee of the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance, which is sponsoring a number of events to celebrate Independents Week.

Booktenders' owner, Ellen Mager, told BTW that participating businesses are holding sidewalk sales beginning June 30 where, among other things, they will be selling Benefit Cards. Available for $15, the card provides discounts or incentives at the 40-plus participating businesses, and part of the proceeds will go to the Network of Victims Assistance. Businesses will continue to sell Benefit Cards after Independents Week.

Among the special events planned for July 3, there will be a ribbon cutting with Mayor Libby White in front of Doylestown's refurbished County Theater, after which there will be a showing of the Steven Spielberg classic Raiders of the Lost Ark. Half of the proceeds from the showing will go to Network of Victims Assistance, Mager reported, with the remaining half going to support activities of Shop Local/Dine Local.

AMIBA affiliation is not required to participate in Independents Week Celebrations. For details, visit www.AMIBA.net.

For more information about the Local First movement and links to related organizations and pertinent studies, visit www.bookweb.org/advocacy/shoplocal. --David Grogan