We were recently involved in a discussion about new chain restaurants coming to town.  Many of the people involved were unclear on why we prefer to KeepItQuerque - buy local at our "homegrown" restaurants.

Some also pointed out that being "local" wasn't reason enough to do business, that a business had to deliver value, a point we all have to agree with.

One way KeepItQuerque - buy local serves our member businesses is by providing you connections to resources that will allow you and your neighbors to improve the "value proposition."

To that end you are often directed to the American Independent Business Alliance that KeepItQueruqe - buy local is affiliated with.  Just as AMIBA shares "best practices" with us, they also provide the means for businesses to benefit from the experience of their colleagues around the nation.

Recently AMIBA, along with the American Booksellers Association, the National Bicycle Dealers Association, the Professional Association of Innkeepers, and Record Store Day, with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance joined together to form the "Advocates for Independent Business (AIB), a new coalition of independent trade associations and allied groups dedicated to helping local independent businesses thrive."

The AMIBA newsletter goes on to say "AIB will provide a structure for its member organizations to exchange information about successful programs that deliver value for their members, generate new ideas to support independent businesses, and work together to advocate shared public policy goals" Recently AIB members urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary to hold a hearing on sales tax fairness that would “allow for constructive dialogue that would move us on the path to leveling the playing field for small businesses.”

You may be able to grow business and bring your community more value with the help of AIB.  Check 'em out.

Your KeepItQuerque - buy local movement is pleased so many of you responded to the survey about "what you want" at the annual Holiday Gathering - thanks!

At the moment it looks like most folks want a laptop, but it goes back and forth for the HDTV, too.  Not to worry, those who want the speakers or the iPod Touch will actually have a better chance of winning!

In response to the question "What is the most important reason you support KeepItQuerque - buy local?" answers ranged from "It's how we keep the local economy growing! Besides, I hate those big corporations that suck money out of our economy ;-)" to "We're small and local and believe in our community" to "To support local businesses, keep more $$$ and jobs at home!"
We particularly liked "Being a supporter brings strength in numbers to educate the public and promote the economic success of recirculating dollars through locally owned independent businesses."

If you haven't taken the survey you can by clicking here - or better yet, just RSVP to attend the event - already many of you are contributing fun door prizes to go along with all the other goodies!

See you there! 
 

If you've got a community development project you'd like to see funded KeepItQuerque - buy local may have a resource you can use.

Among other aspects to emerge from the JOBS Act in 2012 is "Crowdfunding."  While many of us have heard of "Indigogo" or "Kickstarter" as means of funding art-related projects, there is growing interest in the nuts and bolts of crowdfunding.


"Crowdfunding describes the process in which a large group of people pool their resources in support of the efforts or projects of another person or group" says Main Street Crowd.

"Historically, crowdfunding has been used in support of films, research, music, art projects, political campaigns, and the like. Contributions to the project might be philanthropic in nature or might be rewarded with perk of some kind, usually a product or service of the person or group receiving the contribution. This is known as rewards-based or donation crowdfunding."

 

 

In a collaborative economy we each focus on our 'niche' and collaborate with other organizations who can amatch our mission.  Your KeepItQuerque - buy local organization collaborates with ABQ CashMob, for example.  We used to host CashMobs and then decided that ABQ CashMob did an excellent job so now we promote their events instead. 

And while our mission is strictly local we do appreciate the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber's continued efforts on behalf of Small Business, including their training programs..

Sometimes you gotta make "strange bedfellows" and Small Business Saturday is one of those times.*

Independent We Stand is proud to participate in the fourth annual Small Business Saturday on November 30, 2013. Last year, over 100 Million people came together to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday and spent an estimated $5.5 billion dollars.  This year’s event is going to be bigger than ever and we want to help you join in. We came up with ten tips to make your business stand out on Small Business Saturday.

(*Caveat; you'll be encouraged to Sign Up, Upgrade and otherwise Qualify for a bunch of American Express goodies.)