LIMERICK City and County Council has joined forces with Limerick Chamber in a call to support home grown businesses by shopping local and early as the Christmas period approaches.
As the Level 5 Covid restrictions begin this Thursday just weeks away from the launch of the traditional festive season, Mayor Michael Collins said that this year, of all years, Limerick people needed to think local.
With restrictions affecting many shops across the city and county, the Mayor asked consumers to spend their money online with local businesses.
The free Limerick.ie/Shop online shopping platform was established by the council and Limerick Chamber to help local businesses continue trading at the height of the pandemic by connecting consumers with local suppliers for their shopping needs.
More than 225 businesses are participating and Mayor Collins called on businesses not yet registered on Limerick.ie/Shop to do so immediately.
“We have an opportunity to do for the Christmas period what was done for the summer by getting behind local businesses and making sure that they finish this very challenging year with our support and encouragement,” Mayor Collins said.
“As it is now not possible to shop in-store with many businesses over the coming weeks, I’m appealing to the public to support them online and not immediately think of the global online marketplaces as a first option”.
“Limerick businesses have made incredible efforts to safeguard their customers with a wide range of public health initiatives. The least we can do in return is support them online during what should be the busiest trading time of the year,” he concluded.
Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan said it wasn’t just a question of supporting these businesses but, in doing so, supporting employment in Limerick.
“More than ever, this Christmas period is a time to ‘shop Limerick’,” she said.
Local small businesses are also being encouraged to avail of training opportunities with Limerick Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
There are still a number of places available on its ‘How to Manage a Retail Business During Uncertain Times’ course, an interactive online workshop that enables independent retailers to improve profitability.
A Trading Online Voucher to help small businesses develop an online trading presence is also available through the Limerick LEO with a maximum amount payable of €2,500.
