AIBA regularly hosts events to give out members the opportunity to meet each other, learn something new to help their business and introduce new members to AIBA. We also host public events through CLIC and IBIZ Districts. Business or customer, there are many opportunities to partake of what AIBA has to offer.
AIBA Happy Hour
The happy hour has a permanent home at Opal Divine's Freehouse. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month for some great conversation, a few laughs and a cool brew. Opal's will offer an AIBA special for us while we meet upstairs or, weather permitting, we'll be on the upper deck. The happy hour is on vacation in December and January.
First Wednesday, 5:30-7:30
Opal Divine's Freehouse
700 W. 6th St.
AIBA Orientation
Our bimonthly member orientation is the new addition to our events. The orientations help new, existing and potential members to learn about how to get the most out of their AIBA membership.
Wednesday, January 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Orientation Breakfast
Lowbrow Emporium
2708 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite 1C, 462-3739.
Parking in front as well as next door at 2710 Lamar.
NOTE: THIS IS A NEW LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT.
AIBA Luncheon
Additionally, we will be increasing our successful luncheon program to include five luncheons throughout the year. This is a great opportunity to hear informative speakers, network and learn a little about AIBA. Make your reservations for our next luncheon now as the chairs fill quickly!
Wednesday, February 21, noon-1:30 p.m.
Dana Minney will present The Soul of Entrepreneurship
Threadgill's Restaurant
301 West Riverside Drive, 472-9304.
Register for the luncheon now!
We hope to see you at one or all of these events.
Take
the Austin Unchained challenge! Start with one day and unchain yourself by purchasing only from local retailers. No need to purchase additional items, just purchase what you normally would. If everyone in Austin bought their goods and services at locally owned merchants for just one day, it would not only preserve Austin's local character but it would put $14 million into our local economy! This is based on actual sales tax figures and illustrates the economic impact of shopping locally owned. Just imagine what $14 million a day would do for our local economy!
In response to the landmark 2003 study, Economic Impact Analysis: A Case Study of Local Merchants vs. Chain Retailers, AIBA created Austin Unchained, a day of shopping locally owned, designed to bring attention to the economic and cultural impact of consumers shopping at only locally owned businesses for one day.
The first Austin Unchained event was so successful, it has been duplicated by 20 IBAs and organizations all over the country from Austin to New York under the name of America Unchained . It is interesting to note that the week of Austin Unchained showed a spike in sales tax revenue of 4%, the largest increase in two years.
Austin Unchained is celebrated each year in mid November and throughout the year. Whenever you can, choose to give your business to a locally owned merchant.
AIBA and The American Independent Business Alliance declare the first week in July each year as Independents Week in celebration of the contribution of locally owned businesses.
You can participate in Independents Week activities such as the Indie Challenge, a contest where customers collect receipts from locally owned businesses during Independents Week and send them to the AIBA. The people who collect the most receipts from different locally owned businesses win prizes given by AIBA businesses.
AIBA is a member of the American Independent Business Alliance and is part of a growing national movement of communities rallying to support their independent businesses, take control of their local economies, and reverse the trend of chains and big boxes displacing locally owned businesses.
