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<H1> </H1>
<H1>Nationwide Survey Shows Power of "Buy Local" Campaigns</H1>
<H2>Locally-owned independent businesses outperform average retailer sales
during 2009 holidays. Those with active Buy Local campaigns fared
best.</H2></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<P>MINNEAPOLIS - Jan. 14, 2010 - More holiday shoppers deliberately sought
out locally owned businesses this year, according to a national survey of
more than 1,800 independent businesses.</P>
<P>The survey found that holiday sales for independent retailers were up
an average of 2.2%. That contrasts with the U.S. Department of Commerce <A
href="http://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/retail.html"
target=_blank><FONT color=#597bb7>figures</FONT></A> released today, which
show that overall retail sales were down 0.3% in December and up 1.8% in
November.</P>
<P>The survey also found that independent retailers in cities with active
"Buy Independent / Buy Local" or "Local First" campaigns reported stronger
holiday sales than those in cities without such campaigns. These campaigns
have been launched in more than 100 cities and towns. <STRONG>Independent
retailers in these cities reported an average increase in holiday sales of
3.0%, compared to 1.0% for those in cities without an active Buy Local
initiative.</STRONG></P>
<P>Nearly 80% of those surveyed said public awareness of the value of
choosing locally owned businesses had increased in the last year (16% said
it had stayed the same).</P>
<P>"The buzz about buying local was louder among my customers this year
than any other year," said a shoe store owner in Michigan.</P>
<P>"We've had many customers say they are making a real effort to 'Buy
Local' this year. A number of customers said they saw an item at a chain
store or online, and came back to us to purchase it," said a retailer in
Maine.</P>
<P>A bookstore owner in Oregon added that the growing public awareness and
support for independent businesses "has been critical to our ability to
stay in business during down economic times."</P>
<P>The survey was conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a
nonprofit research organization, in partnership with several business
organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, American
Independent Business Alliance, American Specialty Toy Retailers
Association, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and National
Bicycle Dealers Association.</P>
<P>Similar surveys in 2009 and 2008 likewise found that independent
businesses in cities with Buy Local campaigns reported stronger sales than
those in communities without such an initiative.</P>
<P>"This survey adds to the growing body of evidence that people are
increasingly bypassing big business in favor of local entrepreneurs," said
Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the Institute for Local
Self-Reliance. "Amid the worst downturn in more than 60 years, independent
businesses are managing to succeed by emphasizing their community roots
and local ownership."</P>
<P>"These results reinforce what we've heard from our local affiliates --
that their campaigns are yielding real dividends and shifting local
spending," said Jennifer Rockne, director of the American Independent
Business Alliance (AMIBA). "That's good news for their local economies.
Studies show that small businesses keep more dollars circulating locally
and generate the majority of new jobs."</P>
<P>"For the third year in a row, this study demonstrates the bottom-line
impact of local business alliances running Think Local First campaigns,"
said Michelle Long, executive director of the Business Alliance for Local
Living Economies. "Local entrepreneurs are the bedrock of the U.S. economy
and, when they work together, they make our communities more resilient,
unique, and rewarding places to live."</P>
<P>"This survey demonstrates how important such campaigns are in helping
independent businesses achieve greater sales," said American Booksellers
Association CEO Oren Teicher. "This insight about consumers' preferences
is consistent with what we have seen since the launch of IndieBound in
2008. Shoppers value authenticity, they want to connect with and to
strengthen their communities, and they recognize that bigger is not always
better. Because of that, we believe that this is a time of great potential
for locally owned businesses that are committed to working together."</P>
<P><STRONG>Notes</STRONG>: for almost all respondents from communities
with Buy Local campaigns in this survey, those campaigns are executed by
groups affiliated with AMIBA or BALLE. These groups engage in year-round,
community-wide educational efforts and these results may not translate to
Buy Local campaigns that operate seasonally or without organizational
support.</P>
<P>Also, all of those groups promote local and <EM>independent</EM>
business. Campaigns simply urging people to shop locally to keep tax
revenues local, without regard to local ownership, may or may not yield
measurable impact.</P>
<P><STRONG>Contacts</STRONG> <BR>Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local
Self-Reliance, 207-774-6792 <BR>Jennifer Rockne or Jeff Milchen, American
Independent Business Alliance, 406-582-1255 <BR>Alissa Barron, Business
Alliance for Local Living Economies, 240-317-2247 <BR>Meg Smith, American
Booksellers Association,
914-373-6641.</P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>