INDIE BIZ
Independent Businesses drive and support our communities!
West Berkeley Design Loop aims to encourage local commerce. This is a resource for Independent local businesses to promote themselves through collaboration of Indie Biz events.
PLAID FRIDAY
Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. Plaid Friday is the relaxing and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday,” and is designed to promote both local and independently owned businesses the day after Thanksgiving. So plan to wear PLAID all day.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that was created to encourage consumers to shop locally in person and online at small businesses. This event takes place every November (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and represents a significant opportunity to increase sales for small businesses during the holiday shopping season.
Small Business Saturday is dedicated to supporting the millions of small businesses that create jobs and boost local economies.
INDEPENDENTS WEEK
The week of the 4th of July is a great time to remind people how important independent local businesses are to the health and resilience of their communities!
It is a time to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses and the community values they embody. Their spirit of entrepreneurship, individuality, uniqueness, and character. How they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services. How they fulfill community needs that make us healthier and wealthier.
CIDER MONDAY
Cider Monday is an alternative to online sale day Cyber Monday.
Cider Monday bring attention to the effects of online sales on our community. You love the idea of buying local, but the next thing you know...
Money spent in the community contributes money back to the those same communities, unlike online mega stores which return close to zero dollars back.
SUNDAY STREETS
Sunday Streets are free, fun events empowering local communities to transform miles of streets with an annual season of events that reclaim car-congested streets for community health. Creating car-free spaces for all to enjoy with fun, free activities to encourage physical activity and foster community-building. Provided by local nonprofits, community groups and small businesses.
MANUFACTURING DAY
Held annually on the first Friday of October, with events that continue throughout the month, MFG Day—Manufacturing Day—helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders. As manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. MFG day is an occasion during which manufacturers open their doors to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers.
GIVING TUESDAY
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Join the movement and give – each Tuesday and every day – whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.
It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
National Small Business Week is held the 1st week in May. For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. SBA works to ignite change and spark action so small businesses can confidently start, grow, expand, or recover. Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENT
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
AMIBA was founded in 2001 as part of a nationwide movement to support locally-owned, independent businesses, encourage local purchasing, and address the competitive disadvantages that independent businesses often experience due to policies and economic structures.
Today, AMIBA continues to develop new programs, materials, and networks to advance this larger vision. Check their website AMIBA.NET for resources, templates and information on how to create Buy Local campaigns to help make independent businesses strong.
