Independents Outperform Chains over Holidays, Survey Finds

A survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shows that
locally-owned retailers outperformed chains over Holiday 2008, and
locally-owned businesses in cities with active Stay Local, Shop Local
campaigns did even better.

DETAILS

• http://localfirstaz.com/downloads/procurement-matters.pdf
• http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=379

Procurement Matters: The Economic Impact of Local Suppliers

A Civic Economics study commissioned by Local First Arizona reveals that
public procurement from a local supplier generates “dramatically greater
local economic activity” than procurement from a chain business.

“Procurement Matters: The Economic Impact of Local Suppliers” compared the
local economic impact of Wist Office Products, a local supplier and LFA
member, with Office Max Contract, a division of Office Max, after the state
of Arizona dropped Wist from its stable of office suppliers.

DETAILS

• http://localfirstaz.com/downloads/procurement-matters.pdf

The San Francisco Retail Diversity Study, May 2007

This economic and market share analysis of San Francisco that was
commissioned by the San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance and
conducted by Civic Economics.

DETAILS

• http://www.civiceconomics.com/SF/

The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics

A 2004 report by Civic Economics, which compares 10 local businesses in the
Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago versus their chain competitors,
demonstrates the greater economic impact of locally owned businesses.

DETAILS

• http://www.andersonvillestudy.com

The Economic Impact of Locally Owned Businesses vs. Chains: A Case Study in Midcoast Maine

A 2003 study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance looks at local
economies in Maine and concludes, as have other economic studies, that local
businesses recirculate more money within their areas, including more
charitable contributions, than do national chains.

DETAILS

• http://www.newrules.org/retail/midcoaststudy.pdf

Economic Impact Analysis: A Case Study – Local Merchants vs. Retail Chains

December 2002 report, prepared for Liveable City by Civic Economics,
assessing the impact of local merchants, specifically Austin, Texas’
BookPeople and Waterloo Records, relative to the impact of chain stores.
(See the slideshow, too http://www.bookweb.org/files/open/files/economicimpact/slide5.htm.)

DETAILS

• http://bookweb.org/files/open/pdf/lamar.pdf

The Big Box Tool Kit – Countering Mega-Retailers

An invaluable, comprehensive resources action site intended to help build
local economies. From the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

DETAILS

• http://www.bigboxtoolkit.com/index.php