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July is the time to celebrate independent retailers
Each July, “Independent Retailer Month†encourages consumers to shop locally and celebrate independent retailers, which helps create more sustainable communities.
Independent retailers are those who, by definition, have built their businesses without the help of an established brand or franchise. There are an estimated 30.2 million small businesses in the United States, according to the US Small Business Administration.
Beyond commerce, these retailers provide jobs and a sense of community.
“Independent Retailer Month†began in 2011. Tom Shay of Profits Plus and Kerry Bannigan of Nolcha Shows, who had separately launched promotions to promote the success of independent retailers, came together in 2011 to create the global campaign that they named Independent Retailers Month. . Shay in 2003 created “National Independent Retailer Week†to show retailers how they can create celebrations for their communities, industries and their own businesses. Banningan launched Independent Retail Week in 2009 as a week-long citywide shopping event in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Chicago to advance the business of over 400 fashion retailers. independent. In 2011, Bannigan and Shay began discussing how to include anyone who had some form of recognition for independent retail. In July 2011, “US Independent Retailer Month†debuted.
The goal of Independent Retailer Month is to highlight the essential role that small local traders play both socially and economically in their communities and the national economy.
According to the organization’s website, if every family in the United States spent an additional $ 10 per month on a locally owned independent business instead of a national chain, more than $ 9.3 billion would go directly to savings. local.
Independent retailers cite four characteristics of their business that they see as an advantage over e-commerce:
m Service: Independent retailers offer better and more personalized customer service than chain stores.
m Community: Independent traders are more intimately involved in their communities. Online retailers don’t even take this into account here.
m Knowledge: Independent traders can offer first-hand experience and advice.
m Experience: Local businesses offer more unique and intimate shopping experiences than cookie cutter chains.
Independent traders also see opportunities in the evolution of the retail industry. Closures of department stores such as Kmart, Sears, Macy’s and others have left gaps in neighborhood markets that many local merchants are looking to fill. An Academy of International Business survey found that 51% of respondents see these gaps, both in market demand and in physical storefronts, as opportunities to grow their business.
People are encouraged to shop independently at year-round. July is a time to celebrate the independent retailers who help build our economy and our community and to recognize the importance of shopping independently.
How to help independent retailers
The importance of local purchasing has been emphasized with increasing urgency in recent years, and is all the more crucial as so many small businesses are trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some ways to help independent retailers:
m Look for small businesses for all of your buying needs. There is a good chance that items sold by big box retailers will also be sold by small businesses. When the options are the same or similar, buy from a small business instead of its big box competitor.
m Easily provide recommendations from small businesses you’ve done business with. Too often people are quick to complain about the places that have let them down, but these same people don’t think of saying kind words about the companies that have gone above and beyond. Share great experiences on social media or by word of mouth.
m Talk to small business owners first if you have a problem. It’s tempting to go straight to social media to complain about something, but such complaints can have a disastrous impact. Always report issues to the manager or business owner first to see if a resolution can be found. A manager may not be aware of a problem at all. Give small businesses a chance to get it right before they go public.
m If you own a small business, count on other small businesses to meet your needs. Order supplies from other small business owners, enlist the help of local financial and tax advisors, and use local suppliers and delivery staff.
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