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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 18, 2007

97 New Bookstores Opened in 2006

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

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 1, 2004

Community-Owned Stores Provide Alternative to Chains

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/communityowned-stores-provide-alternative-chains/

RKG concluded that Middlebury consumers are spending nearly $7 million elsewhere each year and recommended that the city stem the leakage by enticing Wal-Mart to build a supercenter. But many Middlebury residents refuse to accept the inevitability of the low-wage retailing giant. They have their own ideas about solving Middlebury’s dilemma. They want to open a community-owned department store in the center of town. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2003

Wyoming Town Latest to Open a Community-Owned Store

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/wyoming-town-latest-to-open-community-stor/

The town of Powell, Wyoming, is one of a growing number of places where residents are opening community-owned department stores. More than 800 shares of stock in the Powell Mercantile, priced at $500 each, were purchased by approximately 500 local investors. The 10,000-square-foot store, which sells mostly mid-range clothing and shoes, opened in July and has turned a profit ever since. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Critical Small Business Loan Program Cut

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/critical-small-business-loan-program-cut/

The Bush Administration has cut the federal government’s largest and most important small business loan program by more than 60 percent. This year, the program will back only $4.4 billion in loans, compared to nearly $12 billion last year.

The program, known as 7(a), is run by the Small Business Administration and guarantees loans of up to $2 million made to small businesses. It is the largest source of long-term working capital for small businesses in the nation, accounting for some 40 percent of available financing.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Tackling the Problem of Commercial Gentrification

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tackling-problem-commercial-gentrification/

Rising commercial rents are generally a good thing; they are an indication of the health of a business district and encourage landlords and banks to invest in building improvements.

But in some communities, commercial rents are rising too far too fast. Often this sudden run-up is driven by chain retailers, which discover the appeal of an area and sweep in by the dozens, offering above-market rents for choice spots and sparking a frenzy of speculation.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 1, 2001

Independent Pharmacies On The Rebound

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

After more than a decade of decline, independent pharmacies are beginning to make a comeback. Last year, 244 new independent pharmacies opened, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). By comparison, the top three pharmacy chains had a combined increase of 234 stores last year. Walgreens posted a net gain of 344 new stores, CVS was up 35 stores, and Rite Aid had a net loss of 145 stores.

The increase in independent pharmacies is a sharp turnaround from the last decade.

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