Stay local and gift our communities a sustainable future

With twelve days of Christmas shopping to go, Champion Green is urging consumers to stay local and gift our communities a sustainable future

Boxing Clever at Christmas for a Happier New Year

With twelve days of Christmas shopping to go, Champion Green is urging consumers to stay local and gift our communities a sustainable future.

‘Use it or lose it is’ is the message, according to Evelyn Moynihan of Champion Green, who is asking consumers to shop local, online or in-person, in the run up to Christmas.

“If we rely on convenient nearby shops and services, all year ‘round, it is important that these small businesses get their share of spending now, so they are still trading in January.”

Recent research shows 70% in Ireland now shop regularly online, so it is important to remind shoppers that money spent locally, stays local, the Champion Green campaigners say.

“Every euro spent with a small local business supports Irish business development, jobs, community investment and exchequer contributions that are needed to fund public services,” David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association, says.

Champion Green economists, Jim Power and Eoin McGee, say that every €1 spent locally generates up to €2.50 in the local economy, while spend with e-retailers at the other side of the world, is completely lost to Ireland.

Online shoppers can also be let down, unless they check that the website they are buying on is really local or Irish, Chambers Ireland CEO, Ian Talbot, adds.

“A .IE domain is not necessarily Irish.  Global purchases can incur customs duty and taxes.  They may be delayed or lost, and returns and complaints are not easy to deal with.  Some festive banter with a local business owner, as you stock up for Christmas is a better proposition all round!”

In the month up to Christmas, consumers here spend about €5 billion, according to Retail Ireland, and the ‘stay local’ campaigners believe this spend can achieve much more, if this money stays in the country.

Small businesses employ around 1.2 million people in Ireland.  That is over 70% of all jobs in the ‘non-financial’ business economy, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment reports.

“We are a nation of talented entrepreneurs, makers, and service providers, so let’s maintain that proud reputation, and not put all of our eggs in the multinationals’ basket,” David Broderick of the Small Firms Association, says.

Champion Green is supported by Visa, Kilkenny Design, Aviva, Maxol and An Post, and by trade groups Retail Excellence, Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland.