Only In Louisville: Feeders Supply
Over the last half-century, Feeders Supply has become one of the country’s only local, family-owned and -operated multi-store pet retailer. “There are very few independents that have as many stores as we do,” said Pam Gibson Longwell, chief operating officer and daughter of the company’s founder, Roy D. Gibson.
There are 14 neighborhood Feeders Supply stores – nine in Louisville, three in Southern Indiana, one in Shepherdsville and one in Elizabethtown. They sell supplies, food and services for household pets and became a member of the Louisville Independent Business Alliance in 2011.
Feeders Supply’s success has been built steadily with a tried and true strategy: keeping the company’s core values it was founded on, while adapting to meet market changes and consumer needs. (Read more)
The mission of LIBA is
to preserve the unique community character of the Metro Louisville area by promoting locally-owned businesses and to educate citizens on the value of purchasing locally. In order to pursue its mission, LIBA will focus on:
- Informing citizens of the value provided by locally owned businesses, including their importance to the local economy, culture, and social fabric. The goal is to encourage area residents to view themselves as citizens -- as members of a community rather than merely as consumers.
- Offering group branding, promotion and advertising to LIBA members to elevate the individual and collective profiles of locally owned businesses in order to provide marketing and exposure advantages chains routinely enjoy.
- Creating strong relationships with local government and media in order to inform local decision-making and give voice to the locally owned independent business community, and to promote policies that support community-rooted enterprise.
Why buy local?
The Multiplier Effect:
Independent local businesses employ an array of supporting services, circulating money in and strengthening the local economy. They hire local architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers, and contractors, Local accountants, insurance brokers, computer consultants, attorneys, and advertising agencies help run them.
Dollars spent at community-based merchants create a multiplier effect in the local economy that typically amounts to three times that of a chain. Studies have shown that for every $100 spent at a chain, $15 remains in the community while $45 remains when spent with home town businesses.
.