This weekend marks the fourth year of Small Business Saturday, where customers are encouraged to shop local in the run up to Christmas.
December 2nd is the day set aside this year by Retail Excellence Ireland to profile small businesses and encourage consumers to shop locally and support jobs and enterprises in their respective communities.
The campaign comes at an important time when more customers are shopping online and doing cross-border shopping. Retail Excellence promotes the message that every €10 spent locally is worth €40 in terms of supported employment and support for local businesses.
Deputy CEO of Retail Excellence Lorraine Higgins said, “It is important to recognise the massive impact small businesses have on our economy, both nationally and locally.
“With 37,400 businesses and 282,000 Irish jobs dependent on the industry initiatives like Small Business Saturday are crucial to encourage consumers to shop local and support retailers in Ireland”.
“This initiative is critically important at a time when two-thirds of consumer spend online is fulfilled by businesses operating outside Ireland and in the face of falling excise figures recorded by the Department of Finance which is largely indicative of an increase in cross border shopping”.
“Consequentially, retailers are struggling to compete which is exacerbated by the sizeable differential in business costs and the VAT rate applicable between the U.K. and here.
“With sterling consistently devaluing following Brexit, British businesses positive economies of scale and their competitive pricing it is clear the challenge to Irish retail is immense”.
“That said, we want consumers to understand that their small change can make a big difference on Small Business Saturday in their local economy as €10 spent locally is worth €40 in terms of supported employment, supported communities and helping the business to continue to operate year round.
“So, we would urge everyone to support those retailers operating in Ireland on December 2 and for the remainder of the festive shopping period”.
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