Newest CIBA Member: Healing Motion Physical Therapy
Please welcome CIBA's newest business member, Healing Motion Physical Therapy, Inc located at 732 Main Street, Philomath. Their phone number is 929-2255 and their web site address is http://www.healingmotionpt.com.
jerryheilman@consbio.org">jerryheilman@consbio.org">jerryheilman, 11:12 AM [link]
October Commentary by Jack Wolcott
Corvallis has once again demonstrated that it recognizes the importance of locally owned businesses and values their commitment to outstanding service. When the results of the Gazette-Times’ recent “Top of the Valley” survey was published last month, 88 percent of the winners were local businesses, 92 percent if you include McMenamin’s (an Oregon-based business). And about 42 percent of the local businesses belong to the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance, with another 12 member businesses receiving honorable mention awards. By way of comparison, only 48 percent of the winners in Albany were local businesses.
CIBA works diligently with its members to ensure that they understand the fundamental importance of great customer service and product selection. We understand that a business can never take its customer patronage or loyalty for granted — it must be earned with each and every opportunity presented, whether a sale, a question or “just browsing.” It is encouraging to see the results of this first poll indicate that our community also recognizes what we believe: A business that considers its customers’ satisfaction as fundamental to success will be supported and recommended to others. Thank you, Corvallis!
We also work in full partnership with the other business associations to ensure that locally owned businesses are well represented and their unique needs are taken into consideration when business plans, projections and opportunities arise. We hope that with the recent announcement of several new possibilities for retail spaces (the former Les & Bob’s and the Whiteside Theatre) downtown, primary consideration will be given to finding tenants that have local ownership or at least are Oregon-based.
There are a growing number of reports that demonstrate the fundamental link between locally owned, independently operated business and the well-being of the community. Studies in Maine and Austin, Texas, demonstrate that locally owned businesses generate 3.5 times as much local economic activity as chains. A study of 10 independent businesses and 10 chains in retail, restaurant and service in Andersonville, Ill., demonstrates independent businesses generate about 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot and slightly more sales per square foot than chains. These can be viewed by going to the Web site for the American Independent Business Alliance at http://amiba.net/recommended.html#studies (click on “recommended reading, studies”).
Unchain Corvallis
Sometimes seemingly small acts can make a big impact. Take family spending. You may think you’re just fulfilling your family’s wants or needs when you shop or dine out. Think again.
The choice of where you spend your money makes a big difference to your community. Spending your money with locally owned, independently operated businesses puts your money to work directly helping the local economy — just one way your community benefits from its hometown businesses. Those businesses use goods and services of other locally owned independent businesses — recirculating your money about three and a half times longer locally than if you spend it at a chain. This creates greater community health and prosperity.
Now imagine the impact on your community if everyone shopped locally owned. You can stop imagining and help make it a reality.
On Nov. 18, communities around the country will be urged to “unchain” for just that one day — to maximize the impact of their dollars and inject potentially millions more into the local economy through doing their shopping, dining and other business only with locally owned independent businesses.
Thanks again for your support each and every day. It really does make a difference.
jerryheilman@consbio.org">jerryheilman@consbio.org">jerryheilman, 10:43 AM [link]
