“The biggest threat is the internet and people shopping at home…”

DANNY Leane is an award winning fashion retailer and is the owner and stylist at Annbury’s Boutique, The Plaza, Tralee. Being in the fashion business means Danny is perhaps more adjusted than most to the changing nature of trends and preferences, and with Christmas now just a matter of weeks away, Danny chats to us about the importance of shopping locally and availing of the generational and retail experience in our town.

“Take for example some of the local businesses like Culloty’s and Sean Hussey’s. When you shop at places like this you have years of experience at your disposal and you’re not being charged anything extra for this. We have so many creative artisans and designers like Rebekah Wall, for example, that consumers are not necessarily availing of when they shop online,” said Danny.

Online shopping is where Danny feels the greatest blow is being struck against local business and it’s a trend Danny feels no longer delivers on the promise of value. On top of that, consumers are losing out on the kind of one-to-one service Danny feels is important in retail; something many of us remember but have abandoned in such large numbers.

“The biggest threat is the internet and people shopping at home. This led to people missing out on getting the right service. I believe that prices on the internet are no longer as cheap as they were at the outset of the online shopping craze, but people are now in the habit of doing it.

“Once the small shops and businesses go the chain stores move in, but even this is less of a threat as the money is still being spent locally and jobs are still being created and profits stay local. But all revenue from online shopping vanishes at the click of a button. If by shopping locally people helped to create just one part-time job, it’s still a more positive reflection of what spending local can achieve as opposed to online shopping. This Christmas people should shop local, eat local, spend local and enjoy local,” concluded Danny.

Louise Bunyan from Swamp.

Danny Leane and Joanne Kelly Walsh in Annbury’s Boutique, The Plaza, Tralee.