Retail Excellence and An Taoiseach launched an awareness campaign at Government Buildings this week to support local retailers on Small Business Saturday which will take place on December 2 this year. 
 
Small Business Saturday is an initiative that is supported and promoted by Retail Excellence, the largest retail representative body in Ireland. This is the fourth year of the Irish campaign which profiles small businesses and encourages consumers to shop locally and support jobs and enterprises in their respective communities.   
   
Retail Excellence have this week stressed the massive impact that small businesses have on the Irish economy, both nationally and locally. The group claims that 37,400 businesses and 282,000 Irish jobs are dependent on the industry initiatives like Small Business Saturday which they warn are crucial to encourage consumers to shop local and support retailers in Ireland. 
   
Deputy CEO of Retail Excellence, Lorraine Higgins says, "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."

She added, "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."

Source: www.businessworld.ie