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Why You Should Support Local Business Inland Empire Coffee Illustrates the Difference $100 Spent in a Local Business Has on the Local Economy Versus $100 Spent in a National Chain Store Inland Empire, CA – May 10, 2008 -

Inland Empire Coffee (IE Coffee), California’s leading purveyor of high quality coffee, announced today the release of the following information about the effect that supporting locally owned businesses has on the local economy, specifically within the Inland Empire region. Locally owned small businesses are an important part of an economy that provide for everyone. Keeping money local allows a community to take charge of its own economy. Any time a dollar is spent, it generates a dollar's worth of economic activity and employment. If the same dollar is spent several times, then it generates several dollars worth of employment, behaving as if it were several dollars, not just one. Every dollar has the potential to generate benefits several times its face value. In other words, local business dollars stay local. When those dollars are spent in a national chain store, that money then leaves the local community, which derives very little benefit. Money spent at a locally owned business is more likely to be spent again and again within the local economy. A recent economic analysis conducted in Austin, Texas found that locally owned businesses generate three times the economic impact of chain retailers on equal sales. The difference was attributed to the following: ·       Local Merchants spend a greater percentage of their money on local labor. ·      

Local Merchants keep their profits in the local economy In terms of money, it was found that for every $100 spent at a national retailer only $13 stayed within the local economy. If that same $100 was spent at a locally owned business, more than $45 stayed in the local economy. Simply put, that dollar spent with a local merchant goes a whole lot farther in the local economy than money spent on the chain stores.  Why should anyone care? There are many reasons. For one, it's the local merchant who gets the call to sponsor local children’s sports teams. It's the local merchant who is called to donate money, time, materials and/or products for fundraisers.  "One of the wonderful things about our town is the opportunity we have to support local business and help keep financial resources in the area instead of distant corporate headquarters,” said IE Coffee’s Cliff Young, Director of Coffee Sourcing and Relationships. “Inland Empire small businesses make a hugely positive contribution to the quality of life in our community. Local businesses create good jobs, and they boost the local tax base, which in turn improves our schools, our parks, et cetera. Local businesses are invested in our community. Behind the scenes at any civic activity that contributes to the common wellbeing of the community are local businesses (Uncle Howie's Pizza, Inland Empire Coffee,Goodwin’s Organics, etc.) giving their time, products, and money. Local business people are the unsung heroes of our community.” Young suggests that people in the community make a real effort to do the following: 

• Commit to support local independent businesses.
• Spend their dollars in their neighbors’ shops, even if it's a little more expensive. If someone spends a dollar in your local business, make sure to spend it in another local business.
• Don’t purchase anything from a national chain store or mass-discount online retailer unless there are no local alternatives.
• Be part of a movement to support small, independent, locally owned businesses. Organized support of local businesses strengthens the community as a whole.