Buy Local First . Keep Louisville Weird campaign of the Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA).
The mission of LIBA is to preserve the unique community character of the Metro Louisville area by promoting locally-owned businesses and to educate citizens on the value of shopping locally.
In order to pursue its mission, LIBA will focus on three primary initiatives:
- Informing citizens of the value provided by locally owned businesses, including their importance to the local economy, culture, and social fabric. The goal is to encourage area residents to view themselves as citizens -- as members of a community rather than merely as consumers.
- Offering group branding, promotion and advertising to LIBA members to elevate the individual and collective profiles of locally owned businesses in order to provide marketing and exposure advantages chains routinely enjoy.
- Creating strong relationships with local government and media in order to inform local decision-making and give voice to the locally owned independent business community, and to promote policies that support community-rooted enterprise.
Why buy local?
The Multiplier Effect:
Independent local businesses
employ an array of supporting services, circulating money in and strengthening the local economy. They hire architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers and contractors for construction, and local accountants, insurance brokers, computer consultants, attorneys, advertising agencies help run it.
Dollars spent at community-based merchants create a multiplier effect in the local economy that typically amounts to three times that of a chain. Studies have shown that for every $100 spent at a chain, $13 remains in the community while $45 remains when spent with home town businesses.[Read more]
