Businesses face the challenge of selling Charleville

Further open meeting coming up within a month

AN open meeting for all Charleville retailers and business people, held on Monday evening in Charleville Park Hotel to discuss ways and means whereby Charleville town and district can be marketed as an attractive location to shop, was well supported by local traders.

The attendance was welcomed by P. J. McCarthy, President of Charleville Chamber, who said that the short-term objective is to prepare for the Christmas shopping period and the long-term objective is to prepare for the M20 by-pass, and any other situations that may arise.

“Charleville has a fantastic array of retail outlets, from cars to fashion to groceries, not to mention a host of speciality retailers. The town has been selected as a location by both National and International retailers as a town worthy of their outlets,” he said.

“Charleville Chamber are convening this meeting so that all interested businesses and individuals can attend and air their views on the best ways to promote Charleville as a major retail town.

“We have a great tradition as providers of retail goods and services to local people, businesses and to the farming community in our catchment area. Retailers are now facing the challenge of online shopping and city suburban shopping centres and now is the time for Charleville to face that challenge, meet it head on and deal with it.” said Mr. McCarthy.

Present at the meeting was a leading social media marketing company that has expertise in the retail sector and they outlined what, in their opinion, would be the best way forward for the retail sector in the town. The attendance listened to what they had to say and will now consider drawing up a three to five-year plan for the town and will reconvene to further discuss the matter by the end of this month.