indieretail statistics

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For the good of the consumer

“Americans show confidence in small business over large corporations by three to 1 margin.”

—Gallup

“94% say shopping at a small business makes them feel good.”
—National Federation of Independent Business and American Express

“Consumers prefer real stores; 87% plan to shop in physical stores as much this year as last year; 85% like to touch and feel things; 71% would prefer an Amazon store to the Amazon website.”

—Timetrade Report

“65% say if the item is available in a nearby store or online, they prefer the store.”
—Timetrade Report

“90% are more likely to buy when helped by a knowledgeable salesperson.”
—Timetrade Report

“63% say if the same item is at four different retailers, they will go to the most knowledgeable.”
—Timetrade Report

“50% say they value recommendations by salesperson.”
—Timetrade Report

“60% will buy more than planned if they like the salesperson.”
—Timetrade Report

For the good of your community

“For every dollar spent at a small business, an average of $0.67 stays in that business’s local community.”

—American Express

“Over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy if every US family spent just $10 a month at a local business.”

—The Business Journal

“Small businesses donate 250% more than large businesses to community causes.”

—Score

“Across the country, small businesses employ 58.9 million people, which makes up 47.5% of the country’s total employee workforce.”

—Fundera

“Local businesses generate 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail stores. [2] Your town only has so much space for businesses—dedicating that space to local businesses instead of huge warehouses or giant chains will mean your city using that commercial space 70% more efficiently.”

—Huff Post

“Our survey showed 57 percent of consumers say they shop local to keep money close to home, and 38 percent of consumers support local businesses to feel connected with their community.”

—Fundera

“For every $100 spent locally, at least $68 of that stays in the local economy. That means each dollar you spent at an independent business returns three times more money to your local economy than a dollar spent at a national chain.”

—“The Multiplier Effect of Local Business Ownership”

“A dollar spent at an independent retailer is usually spent six to fifteen times in the community before heading out of town. Just $1 can create $5 to $14 of value in the immediate area.”

—South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc.

“Each $100 spent at local independents generated $45 of secondary local spending, compared to $14 for a big-box chain.”

—The Institute for Local Self-Reliance

“Since 1990, big businesses eliminated 4 million jobs, while small businesses added 8 million jobs.”

—Small Business Administration

"Over 48 percent of every dollar spent at a local business is reinvested in the community compared to just 13 percent of every dollar spent with major chains."

—American Independent Business Alliance

"More than 9.3 billion USD would be directly returned to the US economy if every family spent 10 USD a month at local independent retailers."

—Business Journal

“Local retailers reinvest 130 percent more of their revenues than chain retailers and 676 percent more of their revenues than Amazon.”
—2018 Home Sweet Home: Locals v. Amazon study

“Independent retail returns 46.9% of all revenue to the local economy while major chains recirculate 13.6% of revenue within local markets.”

—2012 study by Civic Economics

“For every $10 million spent on Amazon it creates 14 jobs vs 57 jobs when $10 million is spend at independents!”

—The Institute for Local Self-Reliance

“A study in New Orleans found that if residents and visitors were to shift 10 percent of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would generate an additional $235 million a year in local economic activity, creating many new opportunities and jobs.”

—Civic Economics

“57.2 percent of small firm workers scored in the highest commitment/employee loyalty category, compared to 40.5 percent of large firm workers.”

—Local Economy

“Local business generates 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot than big box retailers.”

—Andersonville Study of Retail Economics

“Only six cents of a dollar spent at a big box retailer stays in the area.”

—Indiana Main Street Program

“If every family in the U.S. spent an extra $10 a month at a locally owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy.”

—CustomMade Infographic

“On average, 52.9% of each purchase at a local independent business is recirculated locally, compared to less than 13.6% of purchases at chain stores.”

—American Independent Business Alliance