Think Boise First

Bruce and I went to a Think Boise First meeting last Tuesday and spoke to many local independent businesses. The more I read about it, the more I think that this is a key componet to helping us in our current economic climate. I found out about this study at the conference I attended in Salt Lake City last week and the results are astounding."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."