1st December, 2017
Small Business Saturday, December 2nd 2017
Welcoming the launch of the Small Business Saturday awareness campaign by An Taoiseach and Retail Excellence, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen T.D. said:
“Small retail businesses are the lifeblood of every town and village across Ireland. This is the fourth year of the Small Business Saturday initiative supported by Retail Excellence which encourages consumers to support their local retailers, particularly during the busy Christmas period. With more than one in every eight employees in Ireland working in the retail sector, it is important that we support local retailers and local jobs.”
The Small Business Saturday campaign in Ireland is supported and promoted by Retail Excellence, profiling small businesses and encourages consumers to shop locally and support jobs and enterprises in their respective communities.
Minister Breen said: “Earlier this year, the Retail Consultation Forum, chaired by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, launched the Framework for Town Centre Renewal. This Framework plays an important role in rejuvenating and revitalising towns and villages around the country. A vibrant retail sector supports vibrant towns and communities and helps to make them more attractive to live in, invest in and to visit. Initiatives such as Small Business Saturday encourage customers onto the streets of towns and villages throughout the country. Supporting local retailers during the Christmas period, and all year long, helps to support local jobs.”
Deputy CEO of Retail Excellence Lorraine Higgins said, “It is important to recognise the massive impact small businesses have on our economy, both nationally and locally. With 37,400 businesses and 282,000 Irish jobs dependent on the industry initiatives like Small Business Saturday are crucial to encourage consumers to shop local and support retailers in Ireland. 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.”
Retail Excellence is a key member of the Retail Consultation Forum. The Forum provides a platform for engagement between retail representative bodies, retailers, Government Departments and public sector bodies.
