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a larger share of their revenue
on local labor (29% vs. 23%), because they carried out all management functions on-site, rather than at a corporate headquarters.

Procurement: The local retailers spent more than twice as much buying goods and services from other local businesses. They banked locally; hired local accountants, attorneys, designers, and other professionals; advertised in local media; and where possible ordered inventory from local firms.

Profits: Because their owners live in the area, a larger portion of the local retailers'
profits stayed within the local economy.

Charitable giving: The local retailers donated more on average to local charities and community organizations than the chains did.

Beyond the economic impact, the Andersonville study found that over 70% of the people surveyed actually prefer to patronize local businesses and 80% prefer traditional urban business districts. Surveys have shown that people prefer a more unique store and more personal interaction to the cookie-cutter, impersonal feel present in many large retailers.

There is still hope for a resurgence by independent booksellers. An American Booksellers Association press release last year announced that 97 new member stores opened in 2006. That news counters the many end-of-year "independent bookstore closing" reports in the media.

"The number of new stores, and the intelligence and professionalism of these new owners, clearly demonstrates that independent bookselling is very much alive and well in the 21st century," Avin Mark Domnitz, American Booksellers Association CEO, said in the release. "Happily, the reports of the decline of independents have, again, been exaggerated."

For both independent bookseller and the communities they serve, that is very good news indeed.

Learn more about this author, Bruno Somerset.
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