“Independents Day” (spelling intentional) has been used a lot to promote the little guy:
2001:
Grundig, German manufacturer of world band phones and electronics, launched a year long “Independents Day” campaign promoting locally owned retailers who carried their line. The retailer who sold the most product won a trip to the U.S….on the Fourth of July.
2004:
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors in the U.K. launched its “My Shop is Your Shop” campaign on June 1st, dubbed “Independents’ Day.” Over 5,000 retailers participated with great success.
2006:
Two dozen retailers launched a “buy local” campaign in the Portland, Oregon area…long before most U.S. consumers had even heard the phrase.
2008:
Record labels from around the world kicked off their inaugural “Independents Day,” celebrating the role of indie labels in pop over the past 50 years.
In keeping with the patriotic theme, here’s my little ditty for independent merchants everywhere, celebrating all your wonderful types, shapes, and sizes (to the tune of The Marine Corps Hymn, aka: From the Halls of Montezuma):
Anthem of the Independent Brick and Mortar
From the lanes of small town USA
to the streets of NYC,
there are independents everywhere,
and we’re happy so to be.
Could have looked for different jobs or paths—
could have found a smoother road.
But instead, we smiled and took a chance,
despite the heavy load.
We know customers by their first names
and we know their kids’ names too.
We hear personal things some should not–
it’s between just us and you.
As a therapist, we’re free of charge,
plus we offer recent wares.
Shop instead in big box mega-stores
and you lose someone who cares.
Need a bite, a sip, a cool retreat
while you slip out of the sun?
Look around the corner—there it is,
someplace new to have some fun.
Doesn’t matter what your palette wants,
or the time you have to spend;
there’s a table, chair, or stool nearby
where you search can finally end.
Yes, our hours are shorter than the “bigs”
and we carry fewer lines.
We can’t offer 2/3 off the price
or impress you with huge signs.
But we’ll give you better quality,
both in goods and service too.
Add to that the money we return
to the town we share with you.
We are nimble, quick, and sharp as tacks,
and determined to stay here
even when the market does its best
to instill a dose of fear.
We will make the most of good and bad,
and will rise up to each test.
As an Independent Merchant, well…
we are proud to be the best.
Happy Independence/Independent’s Day, everyone. Now kick back and enjoy a little time off!
The above post is an updated version of something I wrote a few years ago, long before The 3/50 Project existed or our economy went south.
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