San Francisco Retail Diversity Study

Shopping with Locally-Owned Merchants Could Net San Francisco $200 million and 1,300 New Jobs Every Year

Ground-Breaking Study Indicates that Slight Shift in Purchasing Habits is Key to Sustaining City’s Unique Character and Bolstering the Economy

San Francisco,  CA – May 03, 2007 – Supporters of  locally owned businesses and San Francisco neighborhoods are hailing a new economic study showing that San Franciscans fighting to preserve the unique  character of their city can have their (locally-baked) cake and eat it, too.

The first of its kind in the nation, the San Francisco Retail Diversity Study was prepared by the specialized research firm Civic Economics (www.civiceconomics.com), examining four retail segments in-depth:  books, sporting goods, toys and gifts and limited service dining.

Among the study’s key findings:

A slight shift in consumer purchasing behavior -- diverting just 10% of purchases from national chain stores to locally owned businesses – would, each year, create 1,300 new jobs and yield nearly $200 million in incremental economic activity.

The reverse is also true – a 10% shift away from local merchants would have a negative impact of equal but opposite magnitude.

For purchases where quality goods or knowledgeable service are especially important, shopping with a locally owned merchant can reward consumers with a more satisfying experience and enhance the value they receive.

Municipal policies tend to favor large chains and developers, and urban governments frequently subsidize developments designed for large numbers of chain stores.

The City of San Francisco and the various public institutions, which account for large volume purchases, can actively seek local bidders and provide assistance with procurement processes.

A substantial impact may also be achieved if public officials and institutions conscientiously seek local providers for routine, no-bid purchases.

The independent merchants of the city provide the community with a tremendous injection of economic activity.

“San Franciscans and visitors can significantly sustain and improve the uniquely rich character and the economy of our city with just a slight shift in their shopping patterns,” said Hut Landon, Executive Director of the San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance, which commissioned the study.

http://www.civiceconomics.com/SF/

Going Local

RECENTLY, THERE'S been a groundswell of local businesses moving us one step closer to getting everything from the food on our tables to the clothes on our backs locally made. BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), SFLOMA (San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance), and the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center have teamed up with the Small Business Commission (SBC) to put on this year's Shop Local First Week. The kickoff event takes place Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Union Square, with about 30 local artisans selling handmade wares in the shadow of Macy's. These vendors, all of whom produce their goods in the Bay Area, have the environment in mind and holiday humor to spare. And remember, shopping at locally owned businesses means you'll keep your bucks circulating in the community.

-- San Francisco Bay Guardian, December 7, 2005