Get in Bed with a Book Seller #2

Celebrate independents week!

No single thing can endear you more to an indie bookseller than an authentic understanding of the economic, cultural, & social ramifications in the potential extinction of local retail businesses generally, and bookstores specifically. So, this week, we are going to get that authentic understanding.

Hello Book Bloggers, meet AMIBA;  AMIBA, say hello to this thriving online community.  AMIBA is short for American Independent Business Alliance, and Book Bloggers is short for Awesome Readers Taking the Time to Share.

This is taken directly from the AMIBA site as I could not say it better:

When in the course of human events, it becomes appropriate for communities to assert their independence, to denounce uniformity and celebrate their uniqueness, a respect for freedom and human creativity requires independent businesses and peoples to declare those elements which make them interesting.  Join us in this annual celebration of our Independents!

Think of your favorite shop, restaurant, bookstore or service provider. We’ll bet it’s a home town business. Independent locally-owned businesses are essential to a vital local economy and community character. They use the goods and services of other local businesses, serve as community hubs, and are vital components of healthy neighborhoods and strong city centers. They’re where the locals go. They’re owned by our friends and neighbors, or maybe even by you.

The threat to our communities is real. Dependence on absentee-owned businesses and corporate chains carries many unhealthy consequences. It’s not just local businesses who suffer — our communities are losing social, cultural and economic strength, a place for entrepreneurship, and the ability to determine our own futures. But we have a choice.

AMIBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping communities and independent business thrive. Our proven organizing models and assistance can help prevent the displacement of local independent businesses, ensure ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs, and advance citizen engagement in community social, cultural and economic well being. The evidence of success isn’t just anecdotal; concrete data demonstrate the power of these local Alliances.

FOR WEEK TWO:

1. Read about independents week.
2. Celebrate a local business in your blog this week.  If you want to get in bed with a bookseller, I’d make it about an indie bookstore, and I’d stop by the store to take some photos and let them know about the blog post.  Let your readers AND your local businesses know that you care.
3.  Share the blog post with me so I can link back to it.

That’s it.  Stop.  Go post something.
More next week unless you’d like to do this *****BONUS ACTIVITY*****