Many small shops ‘can’t compete’ with big retailers

A NUMBER of independent shop owners will be sitting out the Black Friday discounting frenzy saying they can’t compete with the big retailers.

Address provider company Autoaddress said activity in the run up to tomorrow was already up 17.5pc compared to the average week.

The average Irish shopper is expected to spend almost €300 tomorrow.

But while the big retailers have taken to Black Friday with gusto, for smaller independent retailers it’s a different business.

Amber Hennigan, owner of online accessories boutique Primp and Style, said she had decided not to partake in Black Friday this year – despite offering discounts the last two years.

“I opened the store in November 2015, within three weeks of opening I felt I had to offer a discount and it didn’t sit well with me at all,” she said.

“Last year, we did offer a discount on all stock despite having a really good season. It seemed a shame to discount stock that was selling well before Christmas just for the sake of it.

“I feel we simply cannot compete with the massive discounts other retailers offer and I also feel offering such large discounts devalues our brand that we work really hard on.”

In Dublin, Hen’s Teeth, an art and lifestyle store on Fade Street, launched an “antidote” to Black Friday by encouraging their customers to show that they have made a purchase of €25 or more in a neighbouring independent store to avail of a 10pc discount.

Co-owner Greg Spring said: “The nature of Black Friday is that it tends to be big businesses that stockpile surplus stock and release it at the same time at a cheaper price, but it’s difficult for a smaller business to compete when you have a smaller inventory.”