Wal-Mart's prospective site at Diagonal Plaza in Boulder, Colo., has raised controversy overwhether local communities should support or oppose new stores opened by franchise businesses.
Many city governments feel reluctant to offer tax breaks to establish giant stores as such storesin some places eventually close and become obsolete. And chambers of commerce have turnedback to supporting local businesses since they have seen drops in membership.
In the 1990s, the "buy local" movement won support from some city councils. And a new mediablitz called "Shop Small All Year Long" has been rising in popularity.
From 1990 to 2009, the market share of independent retailers in the United States fell from 59 percent to 48 percent. Demographic statistics research gives an interesting illustration on wherethe "buy local" philosophy can attract apparent fans. It seems that highly-educated people with high household incomes prefer shopping at small businesses. When local residents choose to shop in small, independent shops, local retail economies stay strong, in the contrast to those communities where people are more likely to be fans of Wal-Mart and other "big box" stores.
