The survey, conducted by the New England Local Business Forum and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, gathered data from 109 independent retailers. Most (87%) operate only a single location. They average just under 8 full-time employees. All are actively involved in “buy local” and “local first” campaigns that urge people to choose local, independent businesses. Being involved in these initiatives may have increased their own interest in purchasing more of the goods and services they need to run their businesses from other local businesses in the region.

Major findings of the survey include:

• Although the survey included retailers carrying a wide variety of goods, it had heavier representation in certain categories and an outsized number of retailers who also make the goods they carry (e.g., jewelers). Respondents reported that an average of 24% of their merchandise was made in-house and 23% was purchased from producers within New England.

• Among retailers who source or produce at least 20% of their merchandise in New England, the top product categories were: groceries, art, jewelry, clothing, furniture, pet supplies, and toys.

• The 13 grocers and specialty food stores in the survey reported that 62% of the food they sold was produced in New England.

• Among those who sourced very little in the region, the top product categories included: shoes, books, appliances, clothing, music CDs, pharmaceuticals, housewares, and toys.

• Scale appears to be a factor in the degree to which retailers source from local and regional producers. The smallest retailers - those spending less than $250,000 a year on inventory - source 51% of their goods from New England producers. Larger retailers - those buying $1 million or more a year in inventory - source only 21% of their goods within the region.

• Of those retailers who already source at least 20% of their merchandise in New England, 50% indicated that a primary barrier to sourcing more from the region was the lack of an easy and fast way to identify New England manufacturers that produce the goods they carry. Other barriers cited included that the goods they carry are not produced here (37% report this barrier) and small producers often fail to meet standard wholesale practices regarding payment terms, delivery, order-taking, etc. (27%). (Respondents could select more than one barrier.)

• Of those firms that purchase a majority of their merchandise from large national or global companies, 80% said the biggest barrier to sourcing in New England is that the goods they sell are not made here. Other factors include the difficulty of identifying regional manufacturers and higher prices for goods produced in New England.

• When asked what would help them source more goods regionally, 55% of the respondents indicated that a website showcasing regional producers and facilitating wholesale orders would be helpful. Just under half (49%) said that assistance identifying producers of the goods they stock would be helpful, and 44% voiced support for a tradeshow of New England manufacturers.

The New England Local Business Forum is a coalition of more than a dozen local business alliances, representing about 3,000 independent businesses in six states. NELBF serves as a resource for the growth and development of these organizations, and promotes support for independent businesses across the region.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance is a national nonprofit organization that conducts research and provides innovative strategies to support environmentally sound and equitable community development.

For more details:  PDF of Survey Questions & Results

You can view the agenda here.  We also have audio files of several of the presentations, as well as photos.

Click the links below to listen to the audio files. (You can view the agenda here.)

How Communities can Protect the Fish while Sustaining Small-Scale, Local Fishing
Speakers: Niaz Dorry of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, and Karen Marzloff of Seacoast Local

Expanding Local and Regional Food Markets & Production
Speakers: Marada Cook of Crown of Maine Co-op, Valerie Geredien of the Maine Food Producers Alliance, and Jonah Fertig of Local Sprouts & the Public Market House’s Community Kitchen
Moderator: Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Do You Buy Local for Your Business?
Results of our New England wide survey of independent retailers.

Reconvening
Best ideas from the break-out sessions & next steps for the New England Local Business Forum.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10am-4pm
Where: SPACE Gallery, Portland, Maine (follow the link for a map)
Cost: $25, including a local organic lunch catered by Local Sprouts

This is a great opportunity to hear inspiring speakers engaged in innovative projects to revive and strengthen food production and manufacturing in New England, meet leaders of other buy local groups from throughout the region, and join a strategic discussion of how to rebuild our local and regional economy.

Featured speakers include:

• Niaz Dorry, coordinating director of NAMA, together with Karen Marzloff of Seacoast Local, will discuss steps communities can take to protect the fish while sustaining small-scale, local fishing operations, and will examine how fisheries policies currently under consideration could lead to the consolidation of the fishing industry, much as farming turned into agribusiness, and undermine the health of our marine ecosystem.

• Marada Cook of Crown of Maine Co-op, Valerie Geredien of the Maine Food Producers Alliance, and Jonah Fertig of Local Sprouts and the Public Market House’s Community Kitchen will participate in a panel discussion about expanding local and regional food production and distribution.

• Stephanie Volo of Planet Dog, which recently moved 75% of its product manufacturing from overseas back to New England, and other business and nonprofit leaders will help lead a strategic discussion about the challenges and opportunities for reviving manufacturing in the region.

This event is being organized by the New England Local Business Forum and hosted by the Portland Independent Business and Community Alliance.

Early registration is encouraged!

Please go to the REGISTRATION FORM.

Purpose

• To bring local leaders together who are organizing local business alliances or who are considering getting one started in their community.
• To share best practices, victories, lessons learned, and other information that will help New England alliances grow and thrive.
• To brainstorm campaign messages and other ideas for how local business alliances can address the breakdown of our national economy and present the value of building a stronger and more robust local economy during this economic crisis.

Day and Date
Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Time
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hosts
Bill Cavanagh and Worcester Local First have graciously offered to host this event.

Participants
Leaders of existing and emerging Local Business Alliances in New England are all welcome!  (A maximum of four from each alliance, please.)

Location
The EcoTarium in Worcester which is the former New England Science Center–a great indoor/outdoor facility on 87 acres.  You can go to ecotarium.org to find out more about this great community institution and get directions

Parking
There is plenty of parking at the Ecotarium.

Cost
$30 for the room, continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and coffee and beverages during the day. Please send a check made out to Worcester Local First: Laury Hammel, The Longfellow Club, 524 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA, 01778

Please Bring
Copies of successful pieces of literature: flyers, directories, bumper stickers, posters, etc. If you have a display table for events, please bring it so we can all learn from each others’ work.