Nationwide Survey Shows Big Gains for Independent Businesses Served by Groups Like LocalShops1

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  February 6, 2013

CONTACT: Ester Venouziou, 727.637.5586 & ester@localshops1.com

The sixth annual post-holiday survey of independent businesses by the Institute for Local Self Reliance brings powerful evidence that pro-local attitudes are growing and suggests independent business alliances like LocalShops1 are yielding direct benefits for their members.

• A larger share (65 percent) of respondents reported revenue growth in 2012 compared to the previous two years (61 percent in 2011, 54 percent  in 2010)
  
  
• Sixty-eight percent of respondents thought awareness of the benefits of "going local" had increased in the previous year.
  
  
• Independent businesses in communities with an active "buy independent/buy local" campaign run by grassroots groups like LocalShops1 saw revenues grow 8.6 percent in 2012, compared to 3.4 percent for those in areas without an alliance.
  
  

"Independent businesses are making huge strides when it comes to communicating their value and building community support," said Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

"It's exciting to see such a big boost for independent businesses," said Ester Venouziou, founder of LocalShops1. "Here in the Tampa Bay region we are definitely seeing the momentum pick up, and local residents are taking ownership of their community."

LocalShops1, established in 2008, is Tampa Bay's leading advocate for locally owned businesses. LocalShops1 serves as the Tampa Bay network for BALLE, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a national nonprofit committed to local businesses, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Locally, the Buy Local movement has flourished in the past year, and now LocalShops1 includes about 300 businesses and 25,000 shoppers.