Background on this project
For 10 years I have hosted radio shows about gardening, restaurants, wine & travel.  In this rather unusual situation, I buy the time and find my own sponsors.  I am an independent broadcaster on one of the few independent stations in the area.  I also write for Rochester's independent weekly newspaper, City Newspaper.

I have always had family owned, local independent businesses as sponsors.  Every year there is more pressure on them as new chains open in our area, from big box retailers to chain restaurants.  It is our independent businesses that give the area it's character and enrich our lives.  Chains provide convenience, but most have relatively little community involvement (especially as a percentage of sales). 

Rather than responding by buying ads to implore consumers to choose local businesses, I am suggesting a grassroots effort spearheaded by those with their livelihoods at stake - independent business owners and especially their employees.  There is no cost associated with handing out the Savor Independents cards to their customers and having employees hand them out to stores and services that they patronize.  I will drop off or send cards upon request.  These are not discount cards.

Add up the friends, relatives and neighbors of the employees of independent businesses, as well as the customers, and it could be a powerful force.  We need to maximize the passion that independent businesses generate, something that chains can seldom accomplish.

Definition of "Independent"
I've struggled with the definition of an independent business for the past month.  Here are the key questions.  A "No" to all of them makes the business independent for the purposes of this directory.  I would appreciate any comments.
                                        Michael@SavorIndependents.com

The key questions:
1)  If multiple locations, are they formula stores - intended to look & feel identical?

2)  Is the business obligated to use one source for materials/services?
(If your insurance agent can only offer one company's products, they are not independent according to my definition)

3)  Is this business considered a chain in other communities, even though it may be based in the local community?  Every chain has a home office, which might be very important to that community, but it is not independent.  Privately owned businesses are not necessarily independent.

4)  Is this business a not-for-profit? (exceptions include Little Theatre Film Society & other arts organizations)

Although there may be exceptions, franchises may be independently owned but I do not consider them independent businesses for the purposes of this directory.  I look forward to an on-going debate about the definition of independent business, and your feedback. 

Thank you for your interest, Michael Warren Thomas  (cell phone 585-703-9237)