Yesterday, we had an email exchange with Leslie Stewart, Project Manager for the Keep Louisville Weird campaign. For those who don't know, KLW is a grassroots public awareness endeavor, recently and quietly begun by a small but growing coalition of independent Louisville business owners. According to Leslie:

"Participating businesses now number over 100 and the number is growing day by day. Businesses range from retail stores to restaurants to service-oriented businesses and include all parts of the Louisville area including southern Indiana. We just had our first meeting on Wednesday March 2nd with 87 people attending, and are now forging ahead to incorporate as the Louisville chapter of the American Independent Business Alliance. Businesses can be a part of both the IBA and/or the Keep Louisville Weird campaign - although there will be chapter dues for the IBA once it's set up. There is no requirement for being involved with Keep Louisville Weird other than the cost of a window sign for your retail storefront if you have one. The campaign also asks that you provide a reciprocal weblink to the KLW site if you have a website, that you make yourself available to the media on occasion to talk about the importance of supporting independent, locally-owned businesses, and that you help spread the word to other business owners such as yourself."

We are encouraged by the progress of this campaign and look forward to networking with Louisville's entrepreneurs and independent business owners. The National Federation of Independent Business offers great advice on how to keep your business thriving despite intimidation from a tough national competitor.