2012 ILSR Survey Results Bring Great News for Independent Businesses and Alliances The sixth annual survey of independent businesses by the Institute

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2012 ILSR Survey Results Bring Great News for Independent Businesses and Alliances

The sixth annual survey of independent businesses by the Institute for Local Self- Reliance showed encouraging trends for independent businesses in both sales and a rise in pro-local attitudes. It also indicated independent businesses served by Independent Business Alliances (IBAs) and peer groups are outperforming their peers by a wide margin.

The survey tallied responses from 2377 businesses, all independent and locally-owned, across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. About half of the wide spectrum of respondents were retailers. Among the highlights:

A larger share (65%) of respondents reported revenue growth in 2012 than in 2011 or 2010.
68% of respondents thought awareness of the benefits of "going local" had increased in the previous year.
75% of respondents with an IBA or similar initiative in their community recognized benefit to their businesses.

Among retailers, more than 80% say "showrooming' is affecting their business (see our tips and graphics to help counter showrooming).

And, most significantly for many of you involved with local alliances or seeking to initiate one:
* Independent businesses in communities with IBAs and similarly-modeled grassroots groups reported an average revenue increase of 8.6%, compared to 3.4% among other independents.

Read the full report at ILSR.

Congratulations to all alliance leaders for this reinforcement of your great work! Use these results to trumpet your success to local media outlets or to inspire the formation of an IBA if your community does not yet have one. Here's a press release template ready-made to insert your local quotes, with accompanying graphics. Please contact us for any assistance generating media coverage in your region. We're here to help you!

Spread the Local Love for Valentine's Day!

Download free gift tag templates that can easily be printed and distributed locally (just click the image below to see more). More free Valentine's Day ad templates will be posted tomorrow, so follow us on Twitter and Facebook (see icons below) to get word promptly.

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Act Now to Get Underwriting for a Local Presentation/Workshop to Launch or Boost Your Campaign

As dozens of communities, trade groups, and organizations will attest, there's no better way to instigate a high-impact pro-local campaign or push your existing group past a plateau than with an AMIBA presentation. Between now and May, generous underwriting is available from American Express OPEN that can make bringing an AMIBA speaker to your community a "no-brainer."

We're now scheduling for most parts of the U.S. and Canada this spring and underwriting is offered on a first-come, first served basis, so contact us right away to inquire.

AMIBA is Hiring

AMIBA seeks a development director (can work from anywhere) and an office manager (for our Bozeman, MT headquarters). Summer interns, too! See Job and Internship Opportunities.

Subscribe to AMIBA's free monthly newsletter via the box in right column on our website to get the latest news and tools delivered to your inbox.

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