The CRIBA Blog :: Live Local, Buy Local » Big Box Swindle

Announcing: The Black Friday Challenge

Justin Cresswell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:20 +0000

The Capital Region Independent Business Alliance is proud to announce our first ever Black Friday Challenge.

What’s the challenge? Make Black Friday GREEN! Take the holiday dollars you plan to spend this year – especially on Black Friday – and focus on spending them with local retailers and restaurants. We’re creating a free, on-line directory of local retailers and restaurants at CapitalRegion.com, so whether you’re a retailer or a consumer – we want to hear from you today at CapitalRegion.com! Its free, it’s easy, and it’s waiting for you now.

Consumers – Fill our our on-line form for consumer information, and we will notify you as local shopping info develops this Christmas.

Retailers – Fill out our on-line form for retailers, and we will add your information free of charge.

How does this make the day Green, you ask? Great question! This works for all of us in two big ways.

For the environment – Spending with local independent businesses is good for the environment. Local, community-based businesses are human-sized. They consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution.

For the economy – Green is also the color of money, right? Every dollar we spend at locally owned, independent businesses returns 3 times more money to our local economy than one dollar spent at a chain or a big box giant.

The bottom line is this – how your spend your money makes a real difference for all of us, no matter who you are. Take five minutes today and do your part at CapitalRegion.com.

Don’t Call it a Comeback!

Justin Cresswell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:07:15 +0000

CRIBA is proud to announce its first ever public event on September 19 at 7:30 a.m.

Stacy Mitchell, acclaimed author of Big-Box Swindle, will speak on the Capital Region’s revival of locally-owned independent businesses and the resulting positive impact on the community. The speech will be preceded by breakfast, and the event will be held at Carmine’s Restaurant. Stacy will sign copies of her book after her speech.

Tickets are $25 each, and you are encouraged to register at CRIBA.org/events or call 518.860.1947.

Times Union Publishes Op-Ed Piece by CRIBA’s Jim Gile and Big-Box Swindle author Stacy Mitchell

Justin Cresswell — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:44:24 +0000

In response to an article bemoaning the lack of big-box and chain retailers in Albany, our own Jim Gile teamed with Big-Box author Stacy Mitchell to pen the op-ed piece linked here. CRIBA’s working with the great folks from Capital District Local First to bring Stacy into town sometime later this year.

Founding Board Members visit Stacy Mitchell in New Hampshire

Justin Cresswell — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:30:28 +0000

Two of CRIBA’s founding board members, Jim and Rick Gile, travel to Warner, N.H. to attend the gathering of the Growing the Local Business Movement in New England. Stacy Mitchell, author of Big-Box Swindle and Chair of the Board of AMIBA, will be the featured speaker and moderator. Attendees will include over 30 representatives from 16 different local-first groups and independent business alliances.