Resource
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Dec 14, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-revival-building-decentralized-economy/
Local farms, independent retailers, and community banks are all experiencing newfound public support. While these trends are encouraging, local businesses still account for only a small share of the economy. In this 15-minute talk, given in May 2012, ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell presents a compelling case for moving local enterprises from the economy’s margins to its mainstream. Continue reading
In this TEDx talk, delivered on October 20, 2012 at TEDxDirigo‘s Villages conference at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, conference, ILSR Senior Researcher Stacy Mitchell argues for a new phase in the local economy movement. She notes that there’s been a resurgence of support for small farms, local businesses, and community banks, but argues: “As remarkable… Continue reading
Featured
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Jun 20, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/dojs-lawsuit/
For years, Amazon has used its size and market power to bully publishers and keep other retailers from competing in the e-book market. And, for years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has done nothing to constrain Amazon’s abuses or bring about a more competitive marketplace. So it was quite a shock last month when… Continue reading
Featured
Article, Resource
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Jun 5, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/amazon-infographic/
This infographic tracks how Amazon bullied and swindled its way to becoming one of the most powerful retailers on the planet. On pace to be bigger than Walmart by decade’s end, Amazon already controls more than one-third of online shopping and is growing four times faster than e-commerce overall. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Jun 23, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/why-publishers-not-amazon-should-set-book-prices/
After winning a high-stakes standoff against Amazon last year, publishers are now setting the prices that retailers can charge for their e-books.
At first blush, one might assume that such price-fixing would result in higher prices. But the evidence from more than a dozen European countries, where laws have long prohibited selling both print and electronic books below a set price, clearly shows that publisher-mandated pricing saves consumers money. It also fosters a more lively and competitive book industry, with far more books published and many more independent bookstores open than in countries where big retailers control pricing. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jun 2, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/antitrust-policies/2216-2/
Laws in some European countries, most notably Germany, require all bookstores, including online sellers, to sell books at fixed prices. Supporters say outlawing discounts protects independent bookstores and small publishers, which in turn ensures that a broader variety of books are available and that there is less focus on best-sellers. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Aug 24, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/grassroots-financing-underwriting-new-crop-neighborhood-businesses/
Just as CSAs have played a key role in the rebirth of small-scale farms, so too are new community-supported enterprise models helping to launch a new generation of independent grocers, bookstores, and other neighborhood businesses. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Feb 1, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/why-does-congress-want-me-shun-my-local-bookstore-and-shop-online-instead/
By exempting internet retailers like Amazon.com from collecting sales taxes, lawmakers provide a substantial financial incentive for people to bypass local businesses and shop online instead. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Justin Dahlheimer
|
| Updated on
Oct 8, 2008
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/big-retailers-seek-exclusive-deals-books-and-albums/
When a small publisher recently agreed to let Amazon.com be the exclusive seller of a new book about Barack Obama, the deal sparked a flurry of protest from independent booksellers and provided new evidence that the e-commerce giant intends to leverage its power as a retailer to gain more control over the production and distribution of books. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Jan 18, 2007
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/97-new-bookstores-opened-2006/
The 2006 openings followed the launch of nearly 90 bookstores in 2005. “2005 was the first year in memory that there were a significant number of new store openings,” said Oren Teicher of the American Booksellers Association. The locations of the new stores spanned 35 states and included a wide range of cities and small towns, from Los Angeles to Pierre, South Dakota, and Homer, Louisiana. Continue reading
