1 May 2002

Austin Independent Business Alliance Takes Off

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Steve Bercu, owner of Book People, a large independent bookstore in Austin, Texas, has been increasingly concerned about the decline of the city’s homegrown businesses. Like the rest of the country, Austin has seen as steady influx of national chains. Meanwhile, the local businesses so central to the city’s sense of place and character are disappearing. About a year-and-a-half ago, Bercu learned about the Boulder Independent Business Alliance (BIBA) in Boulder, Colorado and decided to replicate the approach in Austin. … Read More
1 May 2002

Cooperative Bolsters Independent Lighting Stores

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

To counter competition from big box retailers, independent lighting stores are banding together in a cooperative called Lighting One. The coop enables members to reduce costs through joint purchasing and gain access to services and expertise that otherwise would be unaffordable.

"Lighting One puts us on a level playing field with the big boxes," says Marilyn Shulman, second generation owner of Bayshore Lighting, a 60-year-old lighting store in Long Island, New York. … Read More
1 May 2002

Independent Funeral Homes Rebound

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Just a few years ago, industry observers were predicting the demise of independent funeral homes. Four giant companies were buying up thousands of independent mortuaries and rapidly consolidating the industry. By processing bodies at large regional embalming plants, buying in bulk, and sharing employees across multiple homes, the chains were expected to gain a significant financial edge over their independent competitors. … Read More
1 May 2002

Local Bookstore Files Antitrust Suit Against Chains

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The now defunct Intimate Bookshop of North Carolina has filed suit against Barnes & Noble and Borders Books alleging that the chains used their market power to pressure publishers for special discounts and terms unavailable to other retailers. According to documents filed in the case by Intimate’s attorney, Carl Person, the chains received an effective discount of 60 percent off the cover price, compared to only about 40-46 percent given to independent bookstores. … Read More
1 May 2002

Wal-Mart Developer’s Tactics Questioned in New Orleans

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Rumors of a citizens lawsuit are beginning to circulate in New Orleans less than a month after the city council approved a 200,000 square foot suburban-style Wal-Mart supercenter. The 17-acre development will be situated along Tchoupitoulas Street in the Lower Garden District, a historic neighborhood wedged between a bend in the Mississippi River and downtown.… Read More
1 May 2002

Arcata Prohibits Forumula Restaurants

by | Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In mid-May, the city council of Arcata, California voted 4-to-1 to enact a citywide cap on the number formula restaurants. The measure must pass a second reading on June 5. It will become law 30 days later. The ordinance defines a formula restaurant as one that shares the same design, menu, trademark, and other characteristics with twelve or more other establishments. The ordinance bars a formula restaurant from locating within the city unless it is replacing an existing formula restaurant at the same location. … Read More
2 Mar 2002

Alaska Governor Chides Safeway Over Switch to Starbucks

by | Date: 2 Mar 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Less than a month after announcing it would replace locally roasted coffee with Starbucks at its Alaska stores, the Safeway supermarket chain is backing down. A barrage of protest from angry residents and a strongly worded letter from Governor Tony Knowles forced the retailer to reconsider its decision to eliminate two Anchorage roasters in favor of Starbucks at its in-store coffee bars. … Read More

1 … 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 … 128