Raleigh Asserts Its Independents

Like local merchants in many towns across the country, independent businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, are facing an intimidating and rather daunting retail landscape -- one that is peppered with chain stores for seemingly every imaginable niche. "Raleigh is inundated with chains," said Nancy Olson of Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. "There's not one business not being threatened by a chain."

But also like a growing number of communities throughout the country, the local businesses of Raleigh are putting stock in the old adage that there's power in numbers: This past summer, Olson reported, a group of independents formed the Raleigh Independent Business Alliance (RIBA).

Olson noted that seeds for an IBA were planted over a year ago when the owner of the local shoe store approached her regarding the idea. It never did get off the ground at that time, but, Olson explained, the idea "simmered for a while" until this past August when she decided to invite any business owner interested in forming an IBA to her store for a meeting. "We've got the ear of the retail editor of the News & Observer and she helped by putting announcements [regarding the proposed meeting] in her column," Olson said.

About 30 business owners showed up for the meeting. In late August, the group brought Steve Bercu, owner of BookPeople in Austin, Texas, and president of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, to speak to the members of RIBA at the studios of a local TV station. "Steve was wonderful," Olson said. "He really inspired us."

At present, RIBA has 50 member businesses. Olson noted that when RIBA formed, Cheryl Dorney, the owner of a local landscaping company, volunteered to take on the leadership role -- a key step in getting the IBA off the ground. Dorney now serves as president of the alliance.

Overall, Olson explained that one of the goals of RIBA is to promote buying locally and inform residents "how important it is to support local businesses." She noted that many members have placed informational sheets regarding the two Civic Economics studies --both of which indicated that local businesses contribute significantly more money to the local economy than do retail chains -- in their store. (For a related story, click here.)

In addition to having customers see the value of local businesses, Olson believes it is crucial that local politicians also understand these economics. The Bercu event helped toward that end as it attracted Mayor Charles Meeker, a city council member, and two people from the city commissioner's office. "If we can get local politicians behind us, we will be successful," she said. "They will maybe do more to help if they are aware how much [local businesses] help the community."

At present, RIBA is currently conducting a recruiting campaign and plans to wait until after Christmas to launch "any coordinated campaigns," Olson said.

In the meantime, Olson told BTW, whenever she has the chance, she tells people about RIBA and the value of independent businesses. "I'm often asked to speak, like at the Newcomers Club, and other various groups," she said. "I've done this for 20 years -- first I spoke about books, then after awhile, I talked about running a business, and now I have this to talk about." --David Grogan