by Debbie Bier, Concord Indies Steering Committee Member. This was also published as an op-ed piece in The Concord Journal (June 25, 2009)
At the first anniversary of the Concord Independent Business Alliance ("The Concord Indies") on June 19, the repeated impression I have of the past year is one of delighted surprise.
The first surprise is that in years past, attempts have been made by some local independent merchants to create a coalition with their colleagues -- attempts that never really got off the ground. Yet, starting from the moment of its inception, the Concord Indies was an energetic, growing, make-things-happen group.
What's different now? "It's because people like you [a non-merchant] are involved." Together, we've learned that it's the entire local economy -- not just retailers -- that we need to preserve and strengthen. This includes consultants, manufacturers, service providers, restaurants and B&Bs, cultural institutions, healthcare practitioners and farmers... and residents and visitors, too. Because when Indies thrive, so does the entire community. Research shows that local businesses deliver significantly greater economic return to a community than national chains. Every $100 spent at a locally owned business creates an average of $68 of new local economic activity, versus only $43 when the same $100 is spent at a national chain.
The second surprise has been a long series of kind and creative acts. For example, the Concord Flower Shop owner offered Churchill Flowers workspace in her shop to fill orders after the recent fire at Churchill Flowers. Concord Flower Shop is also offering customers joint specials with Maximum Image by Sue. Renjeau Galleries needed a new location, and the Concord Lamp Shop brought them in and is beautifully integrating both of their inventories. Indies who had never known each other before enjoy our wider network from which they draw nearly instantaneous, workable solutions to meet their needs.
The third surprise was unsolicited affirmation from local organizations. The Concord Journal, wrote an editorial praising local independent businesses as an intrinsic part of Concord's community. ConcordCAN (Climate Action Network) declared support for the Concord Indies and cited local independent businesses as vital to reducing our carbon footprint. The West Concord Task Force also gave recognition to the Concord Indies' direct efforts to preserve local character and vibrancy.
The last surprise came from residents and others who love to do business here. During the winter holidays, the Indies talked about the importance of preserving local, independent businesses. Quite a few Indies were worried about being able to stay in business come January. Yet nearly all of those businesses weathered the economic downturn -- in part because the Concord Indies kept their plight front-and-center throughout that period. As a result, shoppers repeatedly inquired if merchants were okay, and expressed how much they valued our businesses, pledging to do more or all of their holiday shopping with local Indies. The data support these observations: cities with active "Buy Local" campaigns reported much larger increases in holiday sales (2%) on average than where there were no such campaigns (less than 0.5%).
Residents and other community members have a chance to directly support the goals of the Concord Indies by becoming members. Visit our table at Picnic in the Park to find out how you can become a Concord Indies member and to participate in the "10% Shift." Sample our strawberry shortcake (made with fabulous local berries!), and other goodies. (More about Picnic in the Park below)
Clearly, many forces have come together at the right time to make our first year such a success. The Concord Indies are truly blessed to have been "...born into the most estimable place in all the world, and in the very nick of time, too."
For more information or to join the Indies, go to www.ConcordIndies.org.
Photo courtesy of Concord Flower Shop
At the first anniversary of the Concord Independent Business Alliance ("The Concord Indies") on June 19, the repeated impression I have of the past year is one of delighted surprise.The first surprise is that in years past, attempts have been made by some local independent merchants to create a coalition with their colleagues -- attempts that never really got off the ground. Yet, starting from the moment of its inception, the Concord Indies was an energetic, growing, make-things-happen group.
What's different now? "It's because people like you [a non-merchant] are involved." Together, we've learned that it's the entire local economy -- not just retailers -- that we need to preserve and strengthen. This includes consultants, manufacturers, service providers, restaurants and B&Bs, cultural institutions, healthcare practitioners and farmers... and residents and visitors, too. Because when Indies thrive, so does the entire community. Research shows that local businesses deliver significantly greater economic return to a community than national chains. Every $100 spent at a locally owned business creates an average of $68 of new local economic activity, versus only $43 when the same $100 is spent at a national chain.
The second surprise has been a long series of kind and creative acts. For example, the Concord Flower Shop owner offered Churchill Flowers workspace in her shop to fill orders after the recent fire at Churchill Flowers. Concord Flower Shop is also offering customers joint specials with Maximum Image by Sue. Renjeau Galleries needed a new location, and the Concord Lamp Shop brought them in and is beautifully integrating both of their inventories. Indies who had never known each other before enjoy our wider network from which they draw nearly instantaneous, workable solutions to meet their needs.The third surprise was unsolicited affirmation from local organizations. The Concord Journal, wrote an editorial praising local independent businesses as an intrinsic part of Concord's community. ConcordCAN (Climate Action Network) declared support for the Concord Indies and cited local independent businesses as vital to reducing our carbon footprint. The West Concord Task Force also gave recognition to the Concord Indies' direct efforts to preserve local character and vibrancy.
The last surprise came from residents and others who love to do business here. During the winter holidays, the Indies talked about the importance of preserving local, independent businesses. Quite a few Indies were worried about being able to stay in business come January. Yet nearly all of those businesses weathered the economic downturn -- in part because the Concord Indies kept their plight front-and-center throughout that period. As a result, shoppers repeatedly inquired if merchants were okay, and expressed how much they valued our businesses, pledging to do more or all of their holiday shopping with local Indies. The data support these observations: cities with active "Buy Local" campaigns reported much larger increases in holiday sales (2%) on average than where there were no such campaigns (less than 0.5%).
Residents and other community members have a chance to directly support the goals of the Concord Indies by becoming members. Visit our table at Picnic in the Park to find out how you can become a Concord Indies member and to participate in the "10% Shift." Sample our strawberry shortcake (made with fabulous local berries!), and other goodies. (More about Picnic in the Park below)
Clearly, many forces have come together at the right time to make our first year such a success. The Concord Indies are truly blessed to have been "...born into the most estimable place in all the world, and in the very nick of time, too."
For more information or to join the Indies, go to www.ConcordIndies.org.
Photo courtesy of Concord Flower Shop 
