Shoppersurgedtostaylocal andmakeitaGreenFriday

IRISH shoppers are being asked to support local businesses and to take a different approach to the mass consumerism of Black Friday.

The Green Friday campaign, spearheaded by Cork duo Bronwyn Connolly and Meadhbh O’ Leary Fitzpatrick of Wild Design Collective, aims at supporting small independent Irish businesses this Friday.

The Green Friday initiative encourages local businesses to come together to organise events, while also asking consumers to reconsider their purchases this Christmas and, where possible, to shop local.

Organisers say craft shops, pubs, cafes and a raft of other small businesses throughout the country are looking at novel ways to attract the thousands of shoppers that make Christmas purchases on Black Friday.

Bronwyn Connolly, Green Friday Co-Founder and Owner of Wild Designs, explained: ‘During Black Friday the average Irish person buys four products and spends €300, with internal Black-Friday Global data for 2018 showing an 1852% increase in sales compared to an ordinary day. We are hoping that people will consider spending some of this money on locally produced products and services – there is so much choice out there! The Irish retail industry is primarily made up of small, family owned, indigenous companies and in supporting them, we are supporting our communities to stay strong, relevant and vibrant in amongst the many international retailers we have here in Ireland.

She said that the campaign was a huge success last year , and from humble beginnings Green Friday reached a national movement with over 170 businesses getting involved and reaching over 25,000 people on social media. ‘ This year we want to double that amount!’

‘ The support we have received has been fantastic,’ she continued. ‘Black Friday puts serious pressure on small businesses to discount during the Christmas season, which may not be possible and is often not sustainable. Our aim is to get the word out to businesses that there are other ways to promote your wares and to engage customers.

Ms. Connolly commented: ‘Artists and craftspeople spend years working on their skills and honing their craft and there’s very much a journey involved to following that interest and passion through the ups, downs and sacrifices involved in building a business from your creative abilities. It also takes time to develop your product, and indeed your brand, and build that necessary brand loyalty within the local and wider community.’

Here in Dundalk, both Bridge Street Studios and Creative Spark Studios are opening their doors to the public on Friday, offering people the chance to buy unique quality work directly from the makers.

And, of course, the Chamber of Commerce ‘Shop Local’ voucher scheme gives people the opportunity to support a host of local shops, businesses, and services all year round.