Welcome to
You'll find here graphics, suggested activities, "how-to" documents, and a proclamation you can adapt for your local mayor or state governor for ceremonious adoption--everything you need to participate! You can pick and choose what you would like to bring to your community, or devise your own ideas. Please pass along your ideas so we can add them more ideas to the toolkit next year.
You may customize all activities and graphics for local use. Please mention somewhere in your materials and press releases that you are working with the American Independent Business Alliance, a non-profit organization helping communities sustain their local independent businesses and keep opportunities alive for local entrepreneurs. (We also are happy to help you customize designs -- please inquire for our affordable rates.)
Have fun, and we're glad you're with us!
Please email us to let us know you are participating and tell us your planned events. This may help us generate media attention for your group.
Documents
Participant information and suggested activities (pdf, 6 pgs.) This document offers many activity suggestions, instruction, and provides pointers for securing a proclamation -- and how to capitalize on it.
ProclamationLanguage for City Government (Word doc)
Language for State Government (Word doc).
Here's a list of the governors of each US state with links to your state's website with contact information.
Local Press Release template (Word doc)
Graphics
PDF files for convenient preview. The original designs are customizable (see "source files," below).
Independents Week logos (pdf)
We provide high- and low-resolution logos for print and internet use (jpg). We have not created low-resolution images for b&w because of their likely use in print. We are happy to provide them upon request.
color w/date (hi-res) (low-res) black/white w/date
color no date (hi-res) (low-res) black/white no dateButton designs (pdf)
(one example of the four designs)
"Find Your Independents" game card (pdf)
Poster templates (two versions -- general and with space for adding your local information)
Over-the-street banner
for downtown, bridges, or other spans.
Source files (zipped for download)
Studies
Back up your kudos for local independent businesses with numbers -- see our Recommened Readings page for a sampling of studies demonstrating the importance of independent businesses to community social, cultural and economic health. The New Rules Project's Big Box Toolkit has much more.
Ideas from IBAs and other participants
Posters/flyers/banners |
Ads/coupons/contests |
Email ideas |
Support documents |
(jpg) |
(pdf) |
Indie Week restaurant menu, emailed to potential customers (Word doc) |
One IBA's way to ensure their message was consistent across spokespeople. (pdf) |
(gif) |
TV ad from the Gallatin Valley IBA (Bozeman, MT) ~ and ~
TV ad from Capital Area IBA (Springfield, IL) ~ and ~ Humboldt IBA's Indie Week ad |
Indie Week participation invitation for festival. Includes liability waiver and release forms. (htm -- opens in browser) |
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downtown banner |
(pdf) |
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(click to enlarge) bus placard design (zipped) |
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Map and game in one (pdf) |
