Traders hold their own in retail fight
LIKE any town of its size, Listowel trade faces an uphill struggle against large, neighbouring urban centres; Tralee in its case.
Now, for the first time, Listowel has hard figures when it comes to public attitudes, painting a clearer picture of its strengths and weaknesses to better inform retail strategy and policy. And there is much that is positive in the retail battle – not least the vote of confidence from shoppers in everything from their habits to their satisfaction with the existing market.
Listowel is the main town for the groceries. 81 per cent of the 204 respondents said Listowel is their main town for food shopping.
Up to 90 per cent of respondents say they shop in Listowel once a week.
Tralee is the main shopping town for clothes and accessories (58 per cent said so); Town users surveyed said they were more likely to shop in Listowel out of habit and convenience (52 per cent) than for the range of shops on offer (8 per cent). Some of the main reasons why people like to shop in Listowel include:
The people/good customer service (28 per cent); convenience (18 per cent) and the boutiques/shops (12 per cent).
Meanwhile, seven per cent of respondents say they shop in Listowel to support the local businesses and the community.
The challenge of online shopping is getting steeper, but will hit Tralee’s Listowel trade more, perhaps, as 71 per cent stated that clothing and accessories are the main type of goods they buy online regularly.