Business Forum: Independent businesses serve shoppers, communities
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With the holiday season behind us, reports show a promising boost in sales in our regional economy. The 2010 season brought the increasingly early start to holiday promotions, the anticipated crush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and new initiatives such as an effort by American Express to create a holiday shopping event, cleverly named Small Business Saturday.
A fresh take on the buy-local movement, Small Business Saturday was designed to encourage people to shop at smaller, independent retail shops in their communities on one day -- the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The campaign was helped locally by Gov. Ed Rendell who declared Nov. 27, 2010, "Small Business Saturday." The results were promising: National sales jumped 27 percent for small retailers in the campaign.
It will be interesting to see if this "small business" focus becomes a new brand in the minds of shoppers in 2011. Regardless of the adoption, the message behind this idea is a critical one for our region, not just in December but all year.
Independent retailers are an important driver of our regional economy, generating consistent sales and income tax revenues each year, while creating thousands of well-paying jobs.
Throughout our region -- in communities like Oakmont, Sewickley or Lawrenceville -- the presence of these small, independently owned shops builds a unique type of character that helps create vibrant community hubs. In Aspinwall, independent retailers are nestled on a quaint street called Brilliant Avenue, creating an appealing ambience that attracts people to live there. The setting offers the perfect backdrop for several annual holiday parades, where people know one another by name.
Beyond this sense of community, independent retailers offer personal relationships and a level of attention to consumers that simply does not exist at big-box retailers. Walk into the local coffee shop, shoe store or gift shop, and you'll find a type of service that is engaging, with people willing to get to know you and your family by name, preference, even size.
Of the value of these retailers to our economy, the American Independent Business Alliance says multiple studies have shown that, on average, each dollar spent at local independent businesses generates at least three times more direct local economic benefit than dollars spent at absentee-owned chains.
When you think about Valentine's Day, birthdays or any other occasion, take the time to explore the shops in the communities throughout Pittsburgh and consider their unique offerings and high-quality service.
First Published January 8, 2011 12:00 am
