Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses
Sunday November 16, 2008 4:00 p.m.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
2124 Brewster Avenue
(2 blocks south of Whipple at Lowell,
midway between El Camino and the Alameda)
Redwood City, CA 94062
An expert's in-depth exploration of the enormous impact of mega-retailers and what communities and independent businesses can do.
Large retail chains have become the most powerful corporations in America and are rapidly transforming our economy, communities, and landscape. In this deft and revealing book, Stacy Mitchell illustrates how mega-retailers are fueling many of our most pressing problems, from the shrinking middle class to rising water pollution and diminished civic engagement.
More than a critique, the Big-Box Swindle draws on real life to show how some communities are successfully countering the spread of mega-retailers and rebuilding their local economies. Mitchell describes innovative approaches-from cutting-edge land-use policies to small-business initiatives-that together provide a detailed road map to a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and she chairs the American Independent Business Alliance.
An Alliance of Local Businesses Working Together to Build a Better Quality of Life on the Peninsula for Everyone
Once upon a time, not so long ago, our hometown peninsula communities were friendly places to live, work and shop where the neighbors and local merchants knew you by name. Most of the products were locally produced and you didn't have to travel far to find the things you needed.
Time and progress have brought congested freeways, cookie-cutter chain stores and we've all become anonymous faces in the crowd.
There are ways to regain much what we've lost and important reasons to do so. Hometown Peninsula is working with local citizens and officials to maintain and improve the quality of life on the Mid-Peninsula.
Why should you support Hometown Peninsula?
You get a broader choice of goods and services as local, independent businesses strive to serve your unique needs.
Your local economy thrives as independent businesses keep much more money in the community than chains and online stores.
Hometown Peninsula members are creating safe, friendly communities where you can raise your family, enjoy life and feel community pride
Meet and network with fellow independent business owners and concerned citizens.
Listen and learn from a different expert each month who will share important information you need to succeed.
Meetings are the first Monday of every month. 5:30 PM – 7 PM at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Social Hall (behind Ace Hardware) 700 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park
Subscribe to our newsletter to get notified of the meetings.
Press Releases
MENLO PARK, Calif. – February 12, 2008 – Hometown Peninsula, an alliance of peninsula independent businesses, participated in a survey conducted by the Independent Business Forum during the holidays. The nationwide survey of 1,382 independent retailers found that a desire to support locally owned businesses is emerging as a factor in people's shopping choices as major chains reported weak holiday sales. Read more... (Word document)
Please watch the videos and read the information linked to in this Web site to understand what we're trying to do, and learn some easy ways you can help.
Join us! Get on our mailing list to learn about events and opportunities for you to participate in making the Mid-Peninsula a better place to live, work and shop.
Featured Member
As a member of Hometown Peninsula you are eligible to have your custom advertisment showing in this space.
For a nominal annual fee your ad will appear here along with ads of other Hometown Peninsula members. Each time a visitor click to see a new page, or refreshes the page, a different ad is randomly selected to appear here.
For more information please email Clark Kepler, Chairman and Founder of Hometown Peninsula.
