Independent retailers find advice, support in alliances
Alliances of independent retailers with year-round campaigns encouraging consumers to buy local when and where they can produce greater sales growth for retailers than those without programs, according to the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).
The data was compiled by the Institute of Self-Reliance for AMIBA, which promotes and organizes local educational programs on the community payback of spending with local and independent retailers and restaurants.
According the groups’ data, year-to-year sales growth for small independent businesses with ongoing buy-local programs rose by 8.6 percent in 2012 compared to 3.4 percent for businesses without one.
AMIBA’s primary purpose is to help local businesses work together at the community level to help run effective programs and avoid mistakes others have made, said Jiff Milchen, co-director.
“We provide a full array of tools and templates and ongoing advice and support based on the experience of having helped more than 85 organizations around the country with best practices,” he said.
It takes more than a bumper sticker and a poster to be successful, Milchen said.
“It involves public education at a deeper level. We encourage folks to engage actively, making presentations to civic groups, school groups, writing op-eds for their local newspapers … all the different communication channels.”
And it must be ongoing, he said. “If someone comes to us and says, ‘We want to do it for the holiday season as a stand-alone,’ we tell them, ‘Don’t bother. It is not worth your time and energy.’”
For the first year in startup, AMIBA charges $950 for its time helping set up a campaign and for materials – “posters, bumper stickers and a lot of other materials to help with the startup before they develop a lot of their own material.”
After the first year, Milchen said, AMIBA charges for ongoing support on a scale of 1 percent of a group’s operating budget up to a maximum of $600. “We are here every day to provide advice and support,” he said.
The AMIBA’s buy-local model is based on one developed in Boulder, Colo. AMIBA is now based in Bozeman, Mont., with a staff of four.
With the support of American Express, AMIBA created a 12-page introduction to organizing an effective campaign, “Building Buy Local Campaigns that Shift Culture and Spending.” A free PDF version is available upon request.
For information, contact: AMIBA, 222 S. Black Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715; 406-582-1255 or Jeff@AMIBA.net.
