Consumers urged to support local businesses

A new campaign by the Local Enterprise Offices is asking consumers to look local when they are shopping for products, services and experiences this summer.

The Look for Local campaign, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, aims to raise awareness of the benefit of spending in your local area.

Research that was carried out as part of the first Look for Local campaign, which was run by Local Enterprise Office Tipperary in November and December 2020, showed that Irish consumers were 83% more likely to look local for products and services in 2021.

This campaign aims to strengthen that sentiment and to educate consumers on the domino effect that local spending has throughout their community. Every €10 spent in Tipperary on Irish products and services generates more than €40 of benefit to Tipperary in terms of employment*.

The Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, said: “It’s more important than ever to look for local and support the small businesses in your community. Whether you’re thinking of buying a gift, new clothes, a service of some sort - whatever it is, your local business would be delighted with your custom.

“It’s wonderful to see so many small businesses reopen recently, after what has been an exceptionally difficult period and as our vaccine programme ramps up further, we hope to see many more open their doors.

“Thank you to our Local Enterprise Offices for all they have done to help companies over the last 16 months. No matter what challenge your business is facing, your nearest LEO is on hand with advice and financial support.

“We’re hoping for a really busy summer for our small businesses across the country.”

The Local Enterprise Office’s Look for Local campaign, which is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, will run across the summer on national, local and online/digital media and will promote small businesses across the country and the benefit of spending with them.

Cathaoirleach, Tipperary County Council, Councillor Marie Murphy said: “Local authorities are providing a range of supports for businesses to help them get back on their feet but the support of the public is crucial for those businesses and for our local economies. Small businesses and retailers are the lifeblood of our cities, towns and villages, providing vital economic activity and employment opportunities. Local enterprise has so much to offer from top quality products to unique experiences, and the coming months are a great opportunity to take advantage, so please Look for Local, if you can.”

Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive, Tipperary County Council added: “Since the onset of Covid-19, the Local Enterprise Offices have been working closely with small businesses across the country to help sustain them with financial supports, training, mentoring and consultancy, for all areas of their business. Now it’s our turn as consumers to Look for Local with the economy reopening. Every Euro you spend with a local business is an investment in the community around it and the quality of goods, services and experiences on our doorstep is second to none. Not only that, but it makes a positive environmental, economic and societal impact. This summer we are asking everyone to Look for Local and support businesses and jobs in their community.”

In 2020 the Local Enterprise Offices approved over 13,000 Trading Online Vouchers which enabled small businesses to set up an online trading presence. This was up over 950% from the year previous (1,218) and helped small businesses to keep the virtual doors open, when the physical ones were shut.

This, supplemented with training, mentoring, sector and issue specific consultancy and financial supports helped thousands of businesses to continue to trade and sustain themselves ahead of this summer’s reopening. Local Enterprise Office Tipperary approved over 440 Trading Online Vouchers in 2020 worth over €1 million.

The campaign will run across the summer and profiling will continue until the end of the year to help spotlight local businesses and encourage people to Look for Local. For more information go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/LookforLocal and agencies, businesses and consumers will also be encouraged to use #LookforLocal on social media to help support the campaign.