Concerns that we may be headed back into a recession are why local businesses are on a big kick to get your dollar over the holiday weekend. They want to keep local money in locally owned stores.
As you celebrate our country's independence this weekend, you are also being encouraged to celebrate independents. The Austin Independent Business Alliance is urging customers to spend their money at locally owned businesses this 4th of July weekend.
"If you spend $100 at a store and you spend it at a chain store, only $13 of that money stays in Austin, but if you spend it at a locally owned business, over $48 of that stays in Austin, so you have three-times the amount of money that stays here," said Rebecca Melancon, the Austin Independent Business Alliance Executive Director.
The Spider House Cafe, the Mansion at Judges Hill, and the Shoe Boxes Boutique are just some diverse, local businesses taking part with specials and sales. They say independents weekend is even more significant in light of the current economic climate.
"Especially right now with the times, it's good to pump money back into the local economy," said Dena Hughes, the assistant manager for Shoe Boxes Boutique.
"It's crucial and critical, I mean Spider House has been in existence primarily because of the support of the community and just small businesses," said Doren Dippel, the general manager for Spider House Cafe.
"It's definitely good to promote local businesses," said Tiffany Hayden, the marketing coordinator for the Mansion at Judges Hill.
Hayden says besides the specials there are other advantages to buying local.
"We don't have a set of corporate rules that we have to follow so we can take care of guests the way we need to take care of them," said Hayden.
There are more than 400 local merchants affiliated with the Austin Independent Business Alliance. By going to the AIBA website you can find a complete list of those businesses and find out what sales are taking place.
Here's the link to the Austin Independent Business Alliance website:
