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About Stacy Mitchell

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, where she directs initiatives on independent business and community banking. She is the author of Big-Box Swindle and also produces a popular monthly newsletter, the Hometown Advantage Bulletin.  Connect with her on twitter and catch her recent TEDx Talk: Why We Can’t Shop Our Way to a Better Economy. More

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 2 Comments | Updated on Jun 23, 2009

Death of the Category Killers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/death-category-killers/

Borders Books is on "death watch," according to one industry observer. Virgin shut down its last U.S. record store this month. Office Depot and Staples are struggling.  Circuit City is gone.  Best Buy has launched a desperate ad campaign.

While the decline of independent businesses has leveled off, the rest of the retail sector is undergoing dramatic consolidation as a small number of massive companies become ever more dominant. This is an ominous trend for manufacturers and consumers, and it exposes serious flaws in U.S. antitrust policy.  Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 3 Comments | Updated on Jun 12, 2009

Wal-Mart to Create 22,000 Jobs — and Destroy Many Thousands More

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmart-create-22000-jobs-and-destroy-many-thousands-more/

Wal-Mart announced that it would create 22,000 new jobs in the U.S. to staff new and expanded stores.  But, in all likelihood, Wal-Mart’s expansion will make the U.S. employment picture worse, not better.  Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 20, 2009

South Dakota Town Creates Community-Owned Variety Store

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/south-dakota-town-creates-communityowned-variety-store/

When small town in Clark lost its last variety store, they had a choice: drive 40 minutes to a nearby town for basic supplies or pull together and jointly create a new, community-owned store. They pulled together. Continue reading

filed under General | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 12, 2009

The Energetics of Ethanol: An Introduction and Link to Studies

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/energetics-ethanol-introduction-and-link-studies/

Does it take more energy to make ethanol than is contained in ethanol?  That question continues to haunt the ethanol industry even after nearly 30 years of expanding production.  Over the years more than 20 scientific studies have examined the question.  This document contains links to the major studies of the subject completed during the last decade or so. Continue reading

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Article filed under Banking, Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 7 Comments | Updated on May 5, 2009

Soaring Credit Card Transaction Fees Squeeze Independent Businesses

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/soaring-credit-card-transaction-fees-squeeze-independent-businesses/

Independent businesses are largely at the mercy of Visa and MasterCard when it comes to the fees they must pay every time they swipe a credit card.  These fees, which are ultimately passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices, have soared from $27 billion in 2004 to $48 billion last year (or $427 per household). Recognizing the tremendous market power held by card processors, many countries now regulate credit card transaction fees, setting them at rates as low as one-sixth of what U.S. businesses pay.  Continue reading

Article filed under General | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 1 Comment | Updated on Apr 30, 2009

Did NAFTA Spawn the Swine Flu Epidemic?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/did-nafta-spawn-swine-flu-epidemic/

Smithfield Farms was heavily fined for dumping waste into a Virginia River and forced to build a sewage treatment plant.  When we changed  trade rules by enacting NAFTA, Smithfield set up in Mexico, where environmental laws are virtually non existent.  And the whole world may now be paying the price.  Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 28, 2009

New Tool Helps Low-Income Communities Evaluate Food Retailers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-tool-helps-lowincome-communities-evaluate-food-retailers/

The newly published Sustainable Food Retail Framework aims to help cities struggling with a lack of grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods better balance the need to quickly fill the gaps (a mandate that often favors large supermarket chains) with the advantages of fostering development that delivers more long-term stability and greater economic, community, and environmental benefits (a framework that favors local business). Continue reading

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 2 Comments | Updated on Mar 12, 2009

Four Corporate Tax Loopholes States Should Close

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/four-corporate-tax-loopholes-states-should-close/

Doing so would ease budget shortfalls and restore a measure of fairnessfor small businesses, which lack access to these loopholes and end upshouldering a heavier tax burden than their big competitors. Some evidence even suggests that leveling the playing field may help spur entrepreneurialism and job growth. Continue reading

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Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 29, 2009

Stacy Mitchell speaking about the growth of the local business movement (Video)

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/stacy-mitchell-speaking-about-growth-local-business-movement/

Stacy Mitchell speaking about the growth of the local business movement at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute conference in Salt Lake City on Jan. 29, 2009. Continue reading

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Big, Empty Boxes

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/big-empty-boxes/

Abandoned big-box stores, dead and dying strip malls and empty storefronts are about to join foreclosed houses as one of the defining features of the American landscape in 2009. It will be tempting to blame the weak economy for all of this wreckage. But the recession has merely been the trigger. This avalanche of vacant retail, much like the mortgage crisis, has been a long time in the making. Continue reading