Indies are a family made stronger by our diversity. Whether you’re a bookstore, bike shop or bakery, you can use these business-to-business tools to spread the IndieBound message to your independent neighbors.

Resources from IndieBound
Many of the same materials created for ABA Member Bookstores are now freely available through IndieBound To Go. Usage is subject to our approval.

• Here’s What You Just Did — Give your customers something to think about: 10 reasons why shopping local and independent is so important. Add your own name to the editable PDF for real resonance.
• IndieBound Affiliate Program Letter — Friends of independent businesses can support local indie bookstores by joining the IndieBound Affiliate Program and nurturing their communities.  This invitation starts the conversation.
• We’re IndieBound decals — Talk to your independent neighbors about the movement. Start a conversation with a We’re IndieBound decal. Get as many as you want for free by clicking here.
• Public Relations Primer — Filled with talking points and story hooks for the media on local economies and the shop local movement, as well as ideas on connecting with other local businesses.

These is just a sample of what's available on IndieBound To Go.

Studies and reports

• New Study Shows 10% Shift to Indies Makes Significant Economic Impact — Local First of Grand Rapids, Michigan conducted a study which revealed that a modest change in consumer behavior—a mere 10 percent shift in market share to independent businesses from chain stores—would result in 1,600 new jobs, $53 million in wages, and a $137 million economic impact to the area.
• Independents Outperform Chains over Holidays, Survey Finds — A survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shows that indies outperformed chains over Holiday 2008, and indies in cities with active Shop Local campaigns did even better.
• The San Francisco Retail Diversity Study, May 2007 — This economic and market share analysis of San Francisco—commissioned by the San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance and conducted by Civic Economics—shows that independent bookstores provide more economic value to a community than do chains.
• The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics — A 2004 report by Civic Economics, which compares 10 local businesses in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago versus their chain competitors, demonstrates the greater economic impact of locally owned businesses.
• Keep up with news from the growing shop local movement with stories from Bookselling This Week.
• Find more economic studies and resources on our Advocacy pages.

Shop Local organizations

• Startup Packet from the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) — A checklist for founding and launching an Independent Business Alliance.
• Local First Campaign Resources from the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) — BALLE is an alliance of businesspeople dedicated to building local living economies. View videos and other resources for Local First efforts.

Find an IBA near you
Find an IBA in your community. Use the searches on AMIBA and BALLE's websites to find an IBA near you:

• AMIBA search
• BALLE search

Always feel free to contact the IndieBound Outreach Liaison with any questions!