Thriving Outside the Big-Box: Jan’s Paperbacks Named Quarter-finalist for Indie Award

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- The national small business movement Independent We Stand announces the quarter-finalists, including Jan’s Paperbacks of Aloha, Oregon, for the 2014 Independent We Stand Independent Small Business of the Year Award. This announcement precedes Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, encouraging holiday shoppers to support these businesses; instead of big boxes and national chains.

Jan’s Paperbacks is an independently owned and operated bookstore specializing in selling and trading new and used books along with gifts and Kobo eReaders.

“At Jan’s, we love books,” comments store owner Debbie Burke.  “Our goal has always been to share our love of books by offering quality books at reasonable prices, a clean and organized store for readers to browse, as well as a space for local independent authors to display their books or set up a book signing.  We also do as much as possible to get out into the community to offer our support to young readers.”

“Independently owned businesses re-invest in their local economies at a much higher rate than big-box stores,” says Bill Brunelle, founder of Independent We Stand. “This year’s quarter-finalists are a great representation of independent businesses across the country, and this award is our way of recognizing these businesses for their outstanding efforts within the communities they serve.”

Voting is now underway at http://www.independentwestand.org/indies/ through Dec. 14. Voters may visit the website to cast one vote each day.

The Indie winner will receive prizes with a combined value of more than $10,000, including:

·         -$5,000 grand prize

·         -$1,000 STIHL (http://www.stihlusa.com/) equipment certificate. STIHL products are sold exclusively through local dealers, and support more than 8,000 STIHL dealers in communities nationwide.

·         -“Small Business Web Starter Package” from independent web design firm Launch Interactive (http://www.launchint.com/) that includes custom website layout design and programming with a location page with Google map integration and web traffic reporting

·         -Three day/two night stay at an independent resort hotel in Virginia Beach, Va., that includes a tour of the STIHL Inc. headquarters and dinner with the Independent We Stand team

·         -Plaque to display at winner’s business

-Public relations and social media recognition

More than 12,000 votes were made for 300 nominees during the nominations phase. The quarter-finalists in alphabetical order are:

·         A. Dodson's, a retail gift shop in Suffolk, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va.

·         Afterwords Books, a bookstore in Edwardsville, Ill.

·         Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery, an art gallery in Carson City, Nev.

·         BSR Used Books, a used book store in Granite City, Ill.

·         Califon Book Shop, a bookstore in Califon, N.J.

·         Copperhead Lodge, a mountain cabin resort and lodge in Blairsville, Ga.

·         Cornells True Value Hardware, a hardware store in Eastchester, N.Y.

·         Cynwyd Station Cafe and Tea Room, a green community center and Victorian ice cream parlor in Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

·         D'Arcy's, a grocery store in Westfield, IL.

·         For The People, a designer household goods retailer in Phoenix, Ariz.

·         Grolier Poetry Book Shop, a poetry book shop in Cambridge, Mass.

·         Illustrated Beauty, a hair and beauty salon in Somerville, N.J.

·         Jan's Paperbacks, a bookstore in Aloha, Ore.

·         Lead In The Window, a stained glass art studio in Las Vegas, Nev.

·         Life's Memories & More, a scrapbook store in Palmer, Mass.

·         Matt's Building Materials, a lumberyard and hardware store in Pharr, Texas

·         Mike's Community Cup, a coffee shop in SeaTac, Wash.

·         Monkitree, a fine art and craft gallery in Gardiner, Maine

·         Mower Man Lawn Service, a landscaping business in Lakeside, Calif.

·         Prairie View Farm Market, a garden center and farm market in Hampshire, Ill.

·         Superior Outdoor Power, a hardware and outdoor equipment dealer in Superior, Neb.

·         The Cross Eyed Owl, gift shop in Valatie, N.Y.

·         The Ginger Armadillo, a food truck from Austin, Texas

·         Vickery Hardware, a Do It Best hardware store in Smyrna, Ga.

Wagoner Power Equipment, a hardware and outdoor power equipment dealer in Englewood, Ohio

The winner of the Indie will be announced Dec. 17.

For more information on Jan’s Paperbacks, visit: www.JansPaperbacks.com.

For more information on the “Indie” or to vote, visit www.IndieBizAward.com.

About Jan’s Paperbacks

Jan’s Paperbacks is an independently owned bookstore specializing in selling and trading paperback books in-store as well as selling Kobo eBooks through their online store www.JansPaperbacks.com.  The store has been a staple in the Aloha community for over 30 years.

Visit Jan’s Paperbacks at 18095 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Aloha, Oregon 97003, call 503-649-3444, or go online at www.JansPaperbacks.com.

About Independent We Stand

Independent We Stand is a movement of independent business owners across the country to inform their communities about the importance of “Buying Local” and how these efforts bolster their local economy. This movement supports all local and national causes committed to boosting local economic development projects. The Independent We Stand movement is sponsored in part by STIHL Inc., Chrysler Group and Devoe Paint.www.IndependentWeStand.org.