Independent Business Alliance Takes Wing in Fayetteville

Though Arkansas' Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance (FIBA) launched only about a month ago, it has managed to garner a great deal of attention in the local community and in the media. In its short existence, FIBA, which was founded by Lisa Sharp of Nightbird Books and Liz Slape, whose family owns Penguin Ed's Barbeque, has been featured on the local television station and in a number of newspapers. And already the IBA has 20 paid members.

"[Launching an IBA is] something I'd been thinking about doing for a while," said Sharp. Fortunately, there was a like-minded person in town who was also pursuing ways to keep Fayetteville unique: Liz Slape. "She was doing a whole 'Keep Fayetteville Funky' campaign, selling T-shirts and bumper stickers. We got together a couple of months ago and finally got our act together."

Fayetteville, which has a population of 70,000 and is home to the University of Arkansas, is 35 miles away from Walmart's headquarters. Sharp is quick to point out that Walmart has helped northern Arkansas and that FIBA is not anti-Walmart. What it is aiming to do is promote those things that make Fayetteville unique and to help spur the economic vitality of downtown Fayetteville.

"The disappearance of locally owned, independent businesses leaves a social and economic void that is palpable and real, even when it is unmeasured," FIBA explains on its website, www.fayiba.org. "Most people embrace the idea of distinctive businesses with local character, but often forget that the survival of these businesses depends on your patronage. Buy local whenever possible. Every time you spend a dollar at locally owned, independent businesses you not only enhance the cultural vitality of our community, but also help build a stronger local economy. Help us keep Fayetteville from becoming 'Anywhere, USA.'"

The group, which is a member of the American Independent Business Alliance, plans to spread the word through education and awareness, marketing and advertising, and to act as a political liaison between the local businesses and the local government.

At present, indies in Fayetteville are hurting, Sharp reported. The main indie shopping area, Dickson Street, has seen 12 indie businesses close in just the past year. "We know how precarious it is to own a small business and when times get rough, it gets even harder," she said. "We wanted to get on this before the holidays even though we're not completely organized."

Almost as soon as it launched in October, FIBA made the news. An article on FIBA was featured in the Fayetteville Free Weekly (with Slape on the cover), and that led to a spot on KNWA, the local news station. The group was also written up in the Fayetteville Flyer and photographed by The Morning News for last Sunday's edition. FIBA also received publicity for its Fayetteville Unchained event.

Sharp said the press coverage came about "because Liz and I have connections from doing events at the bookstore ... and it just kind of snowballed from there."

All this free publicity has led to many calls from local businesses, and Slape and Sharp have passed out information to dozens of them. FIBA currently has 20 paid members, but "we have another 15 to 20 who we expect [to join]" in the very near future, Sharp noted.

As to what the future holds for FIBA, the group will continue to try to "get our name out there and let everyone know we exist" and is also planning a searchable online directory of members, said Sharp. "I am going to the Winter Institute and have signed up for the extra day -- the Conference on Local First/Shop Local." --Dave Grogan