Support Irish businesses and jobs by shopping local and turning Black Friday Green this year – Currie

People should consider shopping local, supporting Irish jobs and businesses and turning Black Friday Green this year, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie said, “Covid-19 has had been extremely challenging for businesses, so the next couple of weeks presents an opportunity for us to support them by buying Irish and shop locally when we consider making purchases online.

“Ahead of Black Friday on 27^th November and Cyber Monday on 30^th November, we can support local craftspeople, designers and businesses in Ireland by buying their goods and services and recommending them to family and friends.

“During the summer, I was pleased to come together with the Castleknock Business Group to drive awareness of the Champion Green’s national awareness campaign. Organisers are now hoping to turn Black Friday Green this year by asking people to buy online goods and services from local businesses.

“The campaign is encouraging all adults in Ireland to click local and spend an extra €50 in November, which they estimate will result in a €180 million boost for the economy.

“Black Friday is becoming a longer event this year with offers starting early and consumers wanting to prepare by shopping for the presents early.

“Small and medium size businesses have really stepped up to the plate since the onset of the pandemic, adapting to new ways of doing business and offering their goods and services online.

“The Government has also helped thousands of businesses, through the Trading Online Voucher Scheme and the Online Retail Scheme get online and I would encourage more to develop their online presence.

“This has also been reflected with a jump in firms going online in response to the pandemic. Consumers are also changing their shopping habits since the beginning of the year, with almost 30 per cent of spending carried out online, rising to 50 per cent in April, according to research by Revolut.

“Data also shows a jump in the number of companies who started accepting online payment since the start of the pandemic.

“The grocery and food stores sector has seen over a 350 per cent increase in the number of firms accepting online payments, with increases of over 150 per cent in cosmetics, merchandise and healthcare.

“I know how extremely difficult the restrictions have been for businesses in Ireland. Our retailers and their customers are making huge sacrifices to protect public health and I would like to thank them.

“Christmas and special retail events like Black Friday provide us with the opportunity to help them though this challenging period by shopping locally for the festive season,” Senator Currie concluded.