Independent Businesses in Ashland

Have you strolled through a downtown recently and actually shopped there? Have you wondered what it's like to run an independent business in a small town like Ashland these days? “Main Street” retail has come under a lot of pressure nationwide from online commerce and big-box stores, and the pandemic put additional strain on in-person bricks-and-mortar shopping. But local independent businesses haven’t disappeared, and some are even thriving. How do they do it?

Travis Marshall of Funagain Games and Megan Isser of Bloomsbury Books will join us as we consider what makes Ashland a good (or difficult) place to do business, and how the future of downtown might shape the enterprises there. How are these businesses engaged in the community, beyond just selling things? What stake do we have in supporting local businesses, and how can we best do that? Please join us as we consider these issues and other related topics.

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact Tony Davis (tonydavis0@gmail.com) with questions or for more information.