Retailers beat the Budget blues

THE recent bad weather and Budget have not impacted negatively on the retail trade in Ennis, according to the CEO of Ennis Chamber, Rita McInerney. Business in West Clare’s main shopping town, Kilrush is also holding up well, it has been reported.

Ms McInerney said up to 30% of retail trade is done at this time of the year and Ennis Chamber is expecting trade in line with that again this year.
“The wintry weather conditions have a dual effect on shopping. Some people won’t come out at all to shop in slippery, snowy conditions, so they look to shop online or order by phone. Many Ennis shops now provide these services, so people are shopping locally in that way too. Also, locals, who may often go to shop in cities, including Limerick, Galway, Cork or Dublin in the lead-up to Christmas, don’t travel if the roads are icy and dangerous, so they shop in Ennis instead. Nationally, it is being reported that retail sales were badly hit during the recent bad weather but traders in Ennis did not experience that to any great extent,” Ms McInerney commented.
“There was also a fear that once the Budget was published, people would not want to shop but what actually happened was that people were very cautious prior to the Budget because they didn’t know how badly they would be hit but once they calculated their figures after the Budget, they came out to shop again.”
“With the pedestrianisation of some streets in Ennis this weekend and because it’s the last shopping weekend before Christmas, we are expecting a further pick-up in business.
“We are encouraging people as always to shop local and I think that message is getting across to people. There is a recognition now that going up North to shop isn’t as cost effective as it seemed, when you take in travel costs, fuel, parking and so on. Ennis also has some very unique shops that aren’t available on the high street,” Ms McInerney added.
Additional car parking has been organised to accommodate shoppers in Ennis this Saturday and Sunday and on Christmas Eve. “As well as the public car parks located adjacent to the town centre streets, additional parking is available this Saturday, on Christmas Eve and during school holidays in the Holy Family School car park on Station Road for a day rate. Also there is free parking available this Saturday and Sunday and on Christmas Eve in Ennis National School car park on the Kilrush Road,” she explained.
As always, hourly and daily rates are available in the Market Street Multi-Storey Car Park, Market Square as well as pay and display in Dunnes Stores Multi-Storey, Friar’s Walk and Tesco. 
Ms McInerney further pointed out that some shops are opening on Sunday afternoon. “Businesses will also be open late to serve customers during Christmas week for last-minute shopping, particularly on Thursday, December 23.
“It is expected that most retailers will reopen after Christmas on the Bank Holiday Monday, December 27, for the sales,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kilrush town councillor and business person, Marian McMahon Jones has noticed a discernible change in West Clare people’s spending habits since Brian Lenihan unveiled details of the Budget on December 7.
“Since the Budget was released, people relaxed a lot.
“I think a lot of people were very afraid of how little they were going to be left with after the Budget and you found that even people who had money were that little bit slow to spend,” the Fine Gael town councillor observed.
“But since the Budget, you can see proper Christmas shopping.
“The other thing I find is that there are more people staying at home, rather than going to Limerick, Dublin or Galway, which is probably making a huge difference,” she added.
Councillor McMahon Jones also believes that consumers in Kilrush are more price-conscious than they have been in previous years.
“People are comparing the price a lot more this year, which is something that they wouldn’t normally do.
“Ordinarily, you don’t hear that,” the Moore Street shop owner said.