The Truth Behind Walmart’s Green Claims
The scale of Walmart’s renewable energy efforts are no where near the scale of the company’s operations. … Read More
Faulty Study Ignores Small Business Benefits
Last month, San Francisco’s Office of Economic Analysis issued a new study concluding that the city’s policy restricting the spread of chain stores is harming the local economy. But the OEA’s sweeping conclusion rests on bad data and a deeply flawed analysis that misses many of the benefits of independent business. In this article for the San Francisco Bay Guardian, we detail exactly how the study gets it wrong.… Read More
Findings of the 2014 Independent Business Survey
This presentation presents the key findings of the 2014 Independent Business Survey. It includes new data on the impact of “buy local” campaigns; a ranking of the biggest challenges facing small businesses, from online competitors to the difficulty of obtaining financing; and information on the public policy changes that small business owners believe would most help their businesses.… Read More
Webcast: ILSR & Allies Respond to Walmart’s Environmental Claims
When Walmart’s top executives organized a live broadcast event to present what they claimed was progress in greening the company’s operations, ILSR joined with leaders of OUR Walmart and Environmental Action to produce a live webcast response attended by hundreds of environmental activists. Click through to watch our 45-minute event.… Read More
Independent Business Owners Report Growing Public Support, Call for Policies to Level the Playing Field
A survey of 2,602 independent business owners across the U.S. has found that the Buy Local message is boosting customer traffic and improving the outlook on Main Street. But entrepreneurs also say policymakers need to do more to create a level playing field and ensure that small local businesses have an equal opportunity to compete.… Read More
New Survey: Independent Businesses Report Growing Public Support, Call for Policies to Level the Playing Field
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 6, 2014) — A survey of 2,602 independent business owners across the U.S. has found that the Buy Local message is boosting customer traffic and improving the outlook on Main Street. But entrepreneurs also say policymakers need to do more to create a level playing field and ensure that small local businesses have an equal opportunity to compete.
The survey was conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) in partnership with the Advocates for Independent Business (AIB) coalition.… Read More
“An Indie Revival”— Presentation Resources — Innkeepers Conference
ILSR’s Independent Business Initiative produces a wealth of research, articles, model policies, and how-to resources. Here are a few highlights: The Hometown Advantage Bulletin Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get the latest research, analysis, and how-to resources. Key Studies on Big-Box Retail & Independent Business We have compiled the best research on how big … Read More
New Report Reveals Walmart’s Climate Impact
Today, ILSR issued a report on Walmart’s rapidly expanding climate pollution and joined with leading environmental organizations in calling for change. The new report, Walmart’s Assault on the Climate: The Truth Behind One of the Biggest Climate Polluters and Slickest Greenwashers in America, finds: Nearly a decade after launching its sustainability campaign, Walmart’s greenhouse gas emissions … Read More
EDF Sells Green Cred to Walmart for the Low, Low Price of $66 Million
Environmental Defense Fund, a big cheerleader for Walmart’s sustainability efforts, gets about an eighth of its budget from the Walton family, the same folks who control Walmart.… Read More