The message was that there was "Strength in Numbers," but only a handful of retailers turned out to hear about how they could strengthen their business by linking up with other owner-operators.

Less than 20 people attended the Indie Time presentation by Don Sather, founder and board member of the Summit Independent Business Alliance, a last-minute replacement for scheduled speaker Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance.

A Colorado small business man since the 1980s, Sather said "we are talking about survival; we are in an economic time as bad as any I remember." He urged retailers to consider starting a local business alliance in their communities, encouraging shoppers to support local businesses.

"The idea of buying local is a concept that has left us, from the '50s and '60s. We have become overwhelmed by chains and big-boxes. We have given up quality-of-life issues for quantity-of-life issues."

Studies had shown that a dollar spent in a local business recirculated through the community, generating further business, while the same money spent in a chain did not, he said. Sather gave examples of how local businesses had worked together to promote their support in the community.